Lords motion to take note of Part II of the Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 and the effect it has had on third-party election campaigning. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of Part II of the Transparency in Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 and the effect it has had on third-party election campaigning. Agreed to on question.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for extending the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to charities in receipt of public funds.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for extending the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to charities in receipt of public funds.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Bridges of Headley on 8 February 2016 (HLWS502), whether the policy announced in relation to the lobbying operations of charities applies to tax monies paid to charities in return for commissioned services.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Bridges of Headley on 8 February 2016 (HLWS502), whether the policy announced in relation to the lobbying operations of charities applies to tax monies paid to charities in return for commissioned services.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to making it possible for citizens to make freedom of information requests to UK-based registered charities.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to making it possible for citizens to make freedom of information requests to UK-based registered charities.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to bring forward amendments to legislation to ensure that civil society plays a meaningful role in the democratic process.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to bring forward amendments to legislation to ensure that civil society plays a meaningful role in the democratic process.

My Lords, the rules for third-party campaigning are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The law was changed in 2014 to ensure that third-party campaigning was more transparent and accountable through the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. The Government are keen to ensure that civil society plays a meaningful role in the democratic process, and believe that current legislation facilitates this.

My Lords, the rules for third-party campaigning are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The law was changed in 2014 to ensure that third-party campaigning was more transparent and accountable through the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014. The Government are keen to ensure that civil society plays a meaningful role in the democratic process, and believe that current legislation facilitates this.

I am grateful to the noble Lord. I know he has taken a particular interest in this and served on the Select Committee that produced the report Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society. One of its conclusions was that although charities are quite properly regulated in their campaigning activities, particularly at election times, any new regulation or guidance should clearly recognise that advocacy is an important and legitimate part of their role, to be set out in clear and unambiguous language. We need to strike a balance between, on the one hand, the rights of civil society to campaign in the way the noble Lord

has just mentioned, and on the other, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process by having transparency on expenditure.

I am grateful to the noble Lord. I know he has taken a particular interest in this and served on the Select Committee that produced the report Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society. One of its conclusions was that although charities are quite properly regulated in their campaigning activities, particularly at election times, any new regulation or guidance should clearly recognise that advocacy is an important and legitimate part of their role, to be set out in clear and unambiguous language. We need to strike a balance between, on the one hand, the rights of civil society to campaign in the way the noble Lord

has just mentioned, and on the other, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process by having transparency on expenditure.

I am grateful to my noble friend, who piloted the relevant legislation through the other place. During those debates he made the point that the boundary between what you could and could not do has not changed. What we did was insist on transparency and accountability. Therefore, if charities or civil society organisations want to engage in certain activities during a campaign, they have to register and declare their expenditure.

I am grateful to my noble friend, who piloted the relevant legislation through the other place. During those debates he made the point that the boundary between what you could and could not do has not changed. What we did was insist on transparency and accountability. Therefore, if charities or civil society organisations want to engage in certain activities during a campaign, they have to register and declare their expenditure.

I agree with the noble Baroness that we need to have another look at the exemptions that Northern Ireland has from certain parts of electoral law, in particular on declaring sources of expenditure. We have a new First Secretary of State, and I am sure he will be interested in taking this matter forward in discussions through the usual channels.

I agree with the noble Baroness that we need to have another look at the exemptions that Northern Ireland has from certain parts of electoral law, in particular on declaring sources of expenditure. We have a new First Secretary of State, and I am sure he will be interested in taking this matter forward in discussions through the usual channels.

I am grateful to the noble Lord, who piloted the relevant legislation through this House in 2014. I mentioned a moment ago the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities report, Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society. Chapter 3 is on improving governance and accountability. The Government will look at the recommendations in that chapter, to which

the noble Lord referred. In due course, we will respond to the Select Committee report. There has been a slight discontinuity because of the general election.

I am grateful to the noble Lord, who piloted the relevant legislation through this House in 2014. I mentioned a moment ago the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities report, Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society. Chapter 3 is on improving governance and accountability. The Government will look at the recommendations in that chapter, to which

the noble Lord referred. In due course, we will respond to the Select Committee report. There has been a slight discontinuity because of the general election.

I am not quite sure how that derives from the Question on the Order Paper. I refer the noble Lord to the exchanges in the other place yesterday when the First Secretary of State put the arrangement that he just described in a slightly different context.

I am not quite sure how that derives from the Question on the Order Paper. I refer the noble Lord to the exchanges in the other place yesterday when the First Secretary of State put the arrangement that he just described in a slightly different context.

The stakes are rising by the minute in this exchange about electoral expenditure. As I said a few moments ago, if transparency of income is one of the recommendations, it will be addressed by the Government. The whole House will have noted the challenge laid down by my noble friend Lord Lawson.

The stakes are rising by the minute in this exchange about electoral expenditure. As I said a few moments ago, if transparency of income is one of the recommendations, it will be addressed by the Government. The whole House will have noted the challenge laid down by my noble friend Lord Lawson.

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. It is indeed the case that the Hodgson review was published in March last year. Since then, we have had the report by the Select Committee and one of its recommendations was that the Hodgson report should be implemented in full. In due course, we will respond to the report and, by implication, to the Hodgson review, but at the same time there are other pressures on the Government in this field. We have had Eric Pickles’s report on electoral fraud and the Law Commission report on electoral law. We have also just had a general election and it might be useful to look at the experience of civil society during the recent election before we come to a final decision on whether legislation needs to be reviewed.

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. It is indeed the case that the Hodgson review was published in March last year. Since then, we have had the report by the Select Committee and one of its recommendations was that the Hodgson report should be implemented in full. In due course, we will respond to the report and, by implication, to the Hodgson review, but at the same time there are other pressures on the Government in this field. We have had Eric Pickles’s report on electoral fraud and the Law Commission report on electoral law. We have also just had a general election and it might be useful to look at the experience of civil society during the recent election before we come to a final decision on whether legislation needs to be reviewed.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 30 January concerning government and NHS donations to charities (HL4976), whether they will now arrange for each government department and NHS Trust to publish details of donations to charities during the period 2010–15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 30 January concerning government and NHS donations to charities (HL4976), whether they will now arrange for each government department and NHS Trust to publish details of donations to charities during the period 2010–15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 18 January (HL4549), whether, and if so which, charities receive donations from the Government or the NHS which exceed 25 per cent of their total income.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 18 January (HL4549), whether, and if so which, charities receive donations from the Government or the NHS which exceed 25 per cent of their total income.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen on 19 December 2016 concerning the total amount of donations made by the Government and the NHS to charities, whether they have plans to review their policy of not collating this information centrally, and how they...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen on 19 December 2016 concerning the total amount of donations made by the Government and the NHS to charities, whether they have plans to review their policy of not collating this information centrally, and how they...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what ways HM Revenue and Customs promotes the Small Charitable Donations Scheme to small charities.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what ways HM Revenue and Customs promotes the Small Charitable Donations Scheme to small charities.

What investigations the Inland Revenue have made into the charitable donations made by (a) the Porter Foundation, (b) G M Newton Charitable Trust, (c) Rober McAlpine Ltd, (d) the liquidators of the London and Paris Property Group Plc, (e) Wimpey Group Services Ltd, (f) Regalian Properties Plc and (e) Hammerson...

What investigations the Inland Revenue have made into the charitable donations made by (a) the Porter Foundation, (b) G M Newton Charitable Trust, (c) Rober McAlpine Ltd, (d) the liquidators of the London and Paris Property Group Plc, (e) Wimpey Group Services Ltd, (f) Regalian Properties Plc and (e) Hammerson...

If it is his policy that the thin capitalisation proposals issued by the Inland Revenue on Budget day are intended to apply to the voluntary sector. - (Holding answer 12 December 1994).

If it is his policy that the thin capitalisation proposals issued by the Inland Revenue on Budget day are intended to apply to the voluntary sector. - (Holding answer 12 December 1994).

If he will publish a list of those registered charities for which the Inland Revenue has waived tax liability in each of the past five years. - Cannot comment on any charitys tax affairs.

If he will publish a list of those registered charities for which the Inland Revenue has waived tax liability in each of the past five years. - Cannot comment on any charitys tax affairs.