Part IThe Electoral Commission
Establishment of Electoral Commission and bodies with related functions
4Parliamentary Parties Panel
1
There shall be a panel (to be known as “the Parliamentary Parties Panel”) which consists of representatives of qualifying parties appointed in accordance with this section.
2
The function of the panel shall be to submit representations or information to the Commission about such matters affecting political parties as the panel think fit.
3
Where the panel submit any such representations or information to the Commission, the Commission shall—
a
consider the representations or information, and
b
decide whether, and (if so) to what extent, they should act on the representations or information.
4
Each qualifying party shall be entitled to be represented on the panel by a person appointed to the panel by the treasurer of the party.
5
Subject to subsection (6), a person so appointed shall be a member of the panel for such period as the treasurer of the party may determine when making the appointment.
6
A person so appointed shall cease to be a member of the panel if at any time—
a
his appointment is terminated for any reason by the treasurer of the party, or
b
the party ceases to be a qualifying party.
7
The panel may determine their own procedure.
8
The validity of any proceedings of the panel shall not be affected by any failure by the treasurer of a qualifying party to make any appointment in accordance with this section.
9
In this section “qualifying party” means a registered party—
a
to which two or more Members of the House of Commons for the time being belong, who have made and subscribed to the oath required by the [1866 c. 19.] Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866 (or the corresponding affirmation) and are not disqualified from sitting or voting in the House; or
b
to which two or more such Members belonged immediately after the most recent parliamentary general election.