asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have reviewed the working and efficiency of the Electoral Commission; when they intend to carry out a further such review; and whether the impact on smaller parties of the exercise of the commission's powers will be considered in that review. [HL1202]

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) conducted an extensive review of the Electoral Commission in 2006 and took evidence from key stakeholders. The CSPL’s report, published in January 2007, made several recommendations for improvements to the commission's mandate, governance and accountability. Both the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee report on party funding, published in December 2006, and Sir Hayden Phillips’s March 2007 report on the funding of political parties shared much of the CSPL’s analysis.

The Government have not reviewed the working and efficiency of the Electoral Commission and have no plans to do so. However, the Government’s response to the CSPL report was published on 20 November and supports the majority of the CSPL's recommendations. The Government’s response can be accessed at: www.justice.gov.uk/publications/gov-resp-review-elec-comm.htm