Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under section 201(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, for approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Draft Statutory Instruments

2014 No.

Representation Of The People

The Donations to Candidates (Anonymous Registration) Regulations 2014

Made

***

Coming into force

15th September 2014

In accordance with section 201(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(1), a draft of these Regulations has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

In accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(e) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(2), the Secretary of State has consulted with the Electoral Commission prior to these Regulations being made.

Accordingly, the Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2A to the Representation of the People Act 1983(3).

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Donations to Candidates (Anonymous Registration) Regulations 2014.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 15th September 2014.

Certificate of anonymous registration prescribed for purposes of donations and loans

2.—(1) A certificate of anonymous registration issued under any of the provisions in paragraph (2) is evidence that an individual has an anonymous entry in an electoral register for the purposes of paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2A to the Representation of the People Act 1983.

(2) The provisions are—

(a)regulation 45G of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001(4);

(b)regulation 45F of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001(5);

(c)regulation 53D of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008(6).

Revocations

3.  The following provisions are revoked—

(a)regulation 45H of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001(7);

(b)regulation 45G of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001(8).

Name

Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office

Date

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

The registration officer in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is required to issue a certificate of anonymous entry to persons with an anonymous entry in the electoral register maintained by that officer.

Regulation 2 provides that any such certificate of anonymous entry can be used by a candidate as evidence that a donor is registered in an electoral register for the purpose of reporting donations to the Electoral Commission.

(1)

1983 c. 2; section 201(2) was substituted by section 24 of, and paragraph 69 of Schedule 4 to, the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50), and amended by S.I. 1991/1728 and section 158 of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 21 to, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41).

(2)

2000 c. 41; amendments have been made to section 7 but they are not relevant to these Regulations.

(3)

Schedule 2A was inserted by Schedule 16 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41); paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2A was inserted by paragraph 16 of Schedule 1 to the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) and that amendment was extended to Northern Ireland by S.I. 2014/1116.

(4)

S.I. 2001/341; regulation 45G was inserted by S.I. 2006/2910. Other amendments are not relevant to these Regulations.

(5)

S.I. 2001/497; regulation 45F was inserted by S.I. 2007/925. Other amendments are not relevant to these Regulations.

(6)

S.I. 2008/1741; regulation 53D was inserted by S.I. 2014/XXXX . Other amendments are not relevant to these Regulations.

(7)

S.I. 2001/341; regulation 45H was inserted by S.I. 2006/2910.

(8)

S.I. 2001/497; regulation 45G was inserted by S.I. 2007/925.