The Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision for a Scheme, set out in the Schedule to the Order, for the making, by the Electoral Commission, of grants to political parties (“policy development grants”) to assist the parties with the development of policies for inclusion in their manifestos for parliamentary elections, elections to the European Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly, local government elections and local elections in Northern Ireland.

The Scheme gives effect, with modifications, to recommendations made to the Secretary of State by the Electoral Commission. The modifications relate primarily to the detailed methodology of the distribution of the amount available for allocation, and have been made with the agreement of the Commission, as required by section 12(7) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (“the Act”). The effect of a further modification is that the Order makes no provision for an in-year adjustment of allocations in the event that a political party becomes “represented” for the purposes of section 12 of the Act in the course of a year.

The Scheme for which the Order provides has effect in relation to the year ending on 31st March 2002, and subsequent years.

Each of the following parties is eligible for grants under the Scheme if, on the relevant date, it is registered under Part II of the Act and there are at least two Members of the House of Commons belonging to the party who have made and subscribed the oath required by the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866 (or the corresponding affirmation) and are not disqualified from sitting or voting in that House—

(a) the Conservative Party,

(b) the Democratic Unionist Party,

(c) the Labour Party,

(d) the Liberal Democrat Party,

(e) Plaid Cymru,

(f) the Scottish National Party,

(g) the Social Democratic and Labour Party, and

(h) the Ulster Unionist Party.

The relevant date applicable to the year ending on 31st March 2002 is the date on which this Order is made. For subsequent years, the relevant date is 7th March preceding the beginning of the year in question.

The amount available for allocation annually by way of grant under the Scheme is £2million. It will be divided between eligible parties in accordance with paragraph 5 of the Scheme, and will comprise a fixed amount (determined by dividing £1 million by the number of eligible parties for the year) and a variable amount (determined by reference to each eligible party’s share of the vote, weighted by turn-out, in accordance with paragraphs 6 to 9 of the Scheme).