Written questions by Hollinrake.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2025, to Question 97793, on Reform UK: Cryptocurrencies, from what date have political parties been required to declare to the Electoral Commission donations that have been made via a crypto-currency or as a crypto-asset.

The Commission has published guidance for political parties that are considering accepting cryptocurrency assets. It sets out that cryptoassets are considered property, which is in line with HMRC and Financial Conduct Authority guidance, and should be treated as a non-monetary donation.It has always been a requirement for political parties to report the nature and value of non-monetary donations if they are greater than the reporting threshold (£11,800). The Commission’s updated guidance clarified that this applies to cryptoasset donations.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, HC 1086, page 107, why the Electoral Commission has an independent adviser for equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Electoral Commission does not currently have an independent Equality, Diversity and Inclusion adviser. The Commission appointed an independent adviser on EDI between September 2022 - September 2023.The Commission's EDI Strategy is on the Commission's website. It outlines the equalities legislation that applies to the Commission, how it meets its duties, and how it strives to ensure electoral processes are open and accessible to all voters and campaigners.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 116489, on By-elections: Gorton and Denton, if the Electoral Commission will make it their policy to issue a press release on the conclusion of any assessment it has made in relation to this by-election.

Greater Manchester Police are currently reviewing allegations of electoral fraud at the Gorton and Denton by-election. The Commission is in close contact with the police and with the Returning Officer.Once the review is concluded, the Commission will consider the outcome and any additional action needed.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Parliamentary Parties Panel was consulted by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government prior to the publication of its policy paper entitled Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, published on 17 July 2025.

Questions about consultation on a UK Government document, as in this case, are a matter for the relevant Department.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has produced guidance on how donations made in foreign currencies should be treated for the purposes of donation reporting rules.

The Electoral Commission hasn't produced specific guidance on donations that are in foreign currencies.Political parties must report the value of the donations in Pounds Sterling at the time of receipt if they are above the reporting threshold and check it for permissibility if it is above £500.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 112203 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has established a policy on the circumstances in which it would use its enhanced powers to obtain company information.

The Commission does not have a separate policy relating to the powers conferred to it in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023. Its Enforcement policy sets out how it works with other regulatory bodies, and includes detail on sharing information.It states that the Commission shares information with other regulatory bodies where it is able to and it is appropriate to do so. Where a matter under investigation includes an offence or offences where more than one enforcement body has an interest, it will liaise with other regulatory bodies or the police at the earliest possible stage to minimise duplication of investigative work.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has received any representation from Labour Together in 2023 or 2024 relating to the disclosure of materials relating to the Electoral Commission investigation into Labour Together.

The Commission does not disclose details of correspondence related to its investigations , so it would not be appropriate to confirm whether it received representations in relation to this matter.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what Freedom of Information Act requests has the Electoral Commission substantively disclosed information in response to, on Labour Together, since 2021, which have not been published on the Electoral Commission’s FOI disclosure log.

Since 2021, the Commission has received 16 Freedom of Information requests relating to Labour Together.The Commission receives a high volume of complex FOI requests, and therefore does not routinely publish all FOI responses on its disclosure log.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission plans to ask political parties and regulated donees to declare donations over £500 made by cryptocurrencies.

If the market value in GBP of any cryptoasset received by a party or regulated donee is greater than £500, they must treat it as a donation and check the donor is permissible. If it is greater than the reporting threshold (£11,180), it must be reported to the Commission.Donations in cryptoassets of £500 or less are outside the scope of electoral law and do not need to be recorded or reported.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has a list of the organisations currently registered as Members’ Associations.

The Electoral Commission does not hold a register of members associations, as there is no registration requirement for these groups. Members associations are subject to controls on the donations and loans they accept towards their political activities within their party.Members associations must report to the Commission on any donations or loans they accept. Reports must be made within 30 days of accepting the donation or entering into the loan. These reports are published on the Commission’s website.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what data the Electoral Commission holds on levels of electoral fraud, broken down by local authority area.

The Electoral Commission collects data on allegations of electoral fraud from all police forces across the UK, and publishes data on its website annually. Due to the way data is provided, it is broken down by police force, not by local authority. The Commission expects to publish 2025 electoral fraud data by the end of March.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on treating in elections.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents includes an overview of electoral offences. It sets out that a person is guilty of treating if either before, during or after an election they directly or indirectly give or provide any food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting. Treating requires a corrupt intent, and does not apply to ordinary hospitality.Allegations of treating are a matter for the police; the Commission supports the College of Policing with its guidance for policing elections, which includes information on how offences such as treating are investigated.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45681 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has used the powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in relation to Companies House data to date.

The Electoral Commission has not used the powers conferred on it under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023, in relation to the Company House data.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission press release entitled Electoral Commission response to cyber-attack attribution, of 25 March 2024, whether the cyber-attack compromised data other than the electoral registers; and whether it included the Electoral Commission's investigatory data.

During the cyber-attack in 2021-2022, hostile actors were active in the Electoral Commission’s systems which held our email, our control systems, and copies of the electoral registers. The Commission cannot be certain whether any data was copied or downloaded.Information, evidence and analysis relating to investigatory matters, along with donations and loans data was held in a separate system not affected by the attack.The Commission has now significantly strengthened its systems against cyber-attacks and has secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance on requirements for candidates for election to report cryptocurrency donations in their Representation of the People Act returns.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance states that candidates must report all monetary and non-monetary donations they accept or return as impermissible, including donations in crypto assets. The Commission will shortly publish updated guidance for parties and candidates on the reporting and valuation of donations in crypto assets.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission would request information on the type of cryptocurrency used to make political donations when such donations are reported to the Commission.

In line with guidance issued by HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, donations in crypto assets are treated as non-monetary donations. Recipients are required to identify the nature of non-monetary donations. For crypto assets, this means identifying the type and amount of crypto asset. This will be underlined in the forthcoming update to the Commission’s guidance.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025, to Question 97532, on Local Government: Elections, when the Electoral Commission was informed by the Government of the decision to cancel the 2026 mayoral elections.

The Commission was first made aware of the UK Government’s proposals on the same day as the publication of the Secretary of State’s written ministerial statement on 4 December 2025.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the written statement of 4 December 2025, HCWS1128, on Devolution Priority Programme, whether the Government consulted the Electoral Commission on the cancellation of the 2026 mayoral elections.

The Electoral Commission was not consulted by the Government regarding the timing of mayoral elections in 2026.The Commission’s view is that scheduled elections should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances. Voters must have a say on those that represent them at local government, and county council elections are still scheduled to take place in these areas in May 2026.The Commission will work with the Government to better understand its plans for the polls so that it can support voters, campaigners and administrators to prepare.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, on how many occasions has the Electoral Commission issued a (a) disclosure notice or (b) inspection notice under Schedule 19B of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and how many times has it obtained an inspection warrant over the period for which records are centrally held.

The Commission is required to report on its use of investigatory powers, including disclosure notices, investigation notices, and applications for inspection warrants. These are published in the Commission’s Annual Reports and Accounts.The Commission has reported that it issued eight disclosure notices and 50 investigation notices since its investigatory powers came into force in December 2010. It has not applied for an inspection warrant. A breakdown by year is in the table below.The Commission only uses its investigatory powers where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In most investigations, it receives relevant information on a voluntary basis.Use of investigatory powers, by financial yearYearDisclosure notices Investigation noticesInspection warrant applications2011-120002012-130002013-140002014-152002015-162502016-1731602017-1801402018-1901002019-201002020-210002021-220302022-230002023-240102024-25010

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025, to Question 88726, on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether the Government has told the Electoral Commission if it intends to cancel any of the scheduled local elections in May 2026, other than the Surrey councils.

The Electoral Commission has not been told that any further elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed, other than the elections for Surrey County and District councils. The Commission is working with the Government and will continue to support the electoral community as it prepares for scheduled elections in May 2026.