Freedom of Information requests

Request: FOI 78 08

1) Electoral Commission policy for publishing party financial accounts on the website . ie.do you post as received,when all received or on a specific date (post deadline for receipt). 2) Have any parties failed to submit accounts by the relevant deadline? 3) Has any period of grace for delivery of accounts been given to those parties facing severe financial difficulties? 4) Given the current credit crunch has consideration been given to reviewing the rates of interest charged on loans to political parties as being at 'commercial rates' ?

Request: FOI 7508

Can you please provide copies of: copies of all reports and papers considered by the Boundary Committee, any sub committee or sub groups or senior officers which contain such analysis/and/or evaluation, in relation to the proposals for Unitary Local government in Norfolk

Request: FOI 77 08

Please will you supply me with the names and contact details of the investigating officers involved in the investigation of the permissibility of doantions by Michael Brown to the Liberal Democrats, so that they can be approached directly to state what progress has been made, when the results are likely to be made known and to whom and what happens after that?

Request: FOI 73 08

All written Commission information held in relation to party donations made to parties either directy or through the Conservative Central Office or Campaign Headquarters from February 2001 until present.

Request: FOI 72 08

1. Have the organisation named 'United against Fascism' registered with the Commission as a recognised third party? 2. If not, should they have registered as a recognised third party? 3 If they should have registered, have they committed any offence against the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act, 2000, or any other legislation by not registering with the Commission? 4. If they have committed an offence, what is the offence? 5. If they have committed any offence, whose responsibility is it to investigate the matter? 6. If it is my responsibility, to whom do I make any allegation? Is it the Commission, the Metropolitan Police or some other body? 7. If it is not my responsibility, but the responsibility of one of the above organisations, what action do I need to take now?

Request: FOI 71 08

In a letter dated 27th May, 2008, I was informed by the Commission that an organisation called 'Operation Black Vote' have never been registered with the Commission as a recognised third party. This organisation was actively campaigning in the recent London Elections. My enquiry is as follows; 1. Should they have registered with the Commission as a recognised third party. 2. If they should have registered, have they committed any offence against the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act, 2000, or any other legislation, by not registering with the Commission? 3. If they have committed an offence, what is the offence? 4. If they have committed any offence, whose responsibility is it to investigate the matter? 5. If it is my responsibility, to whom do I make any allegation? Is it the Commission, the Metropolitan Police or some other body? 6. If it is not my responsibility, but the responsibility of one of the above organisations, what action do I need to take now?

Request: FOI 67 08

1) Can you confirm that the Electoral Commission have given no consideration to whether donations by Unions to MPs are acceptible or a source of an concern? 2) Can you confirm that the Electoral Commission hold no documents/information regarding such considerations or discussions?

Request: FOI 66 08

I have seen it reported in the Scottish media last week that The Electoral Commission applied an amnesty on offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 for the first five years of that Act's effect. Is it the case that the Electoral Commission has at any time implemented any amnesty with regard to offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000?

Request: FOI 6808

1. If a member of the public makes an official complaint of alleged corruption by a politician, or a member of his/her family, do the police have to ask the Electoral Commission for permission to pursue the complaint? 2. How many times, since 1995, have the police refferred a matter of alleged corruption by a politician, or a member of his/her family to the electoral commisssion? 3. Of these, how many have the electoral commission given the police permission to charge a politician, or a member of his/her family, with alleged corruption?

Request: FOI 6508

1. With regard to Lisa Klein’s interview that appeared in the Sunday Herald of 15/06/08, Ms. Klein refers to a 'first cycle' of 'learning and helping parties' after the Commission was given its regulatory powers in 2001 under PPERA (Politcal Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000). She adds ""The decision to become much more of a regulator was taken in the last two years."". Since it is now 2008, and the EC assumed powers in 2001 that suggests the 'first cycle' lasted 5 years. Hence the reporter, likely summarised this as a 'five year pass'. Do you agree or disagree with this analysis? 2. Whilst, ordinarily, I hold some sympathy for volunteers, I recall that each of the principal parties were allotted considerable public funds - £180,000 rings a bell - for education in PPERA. Is that usual for a new law? 3. Is there a record of Ms Klein's briefing to journalists? May I have a copy? Will you please be kind enough to supply the following information relating to cases concerning political donations since inception of the Commission: 4. Do all members of the Commission participate in the consideration of all such cases? Are records kept of those members presiding over each case? 5. Is the Commission performance monitored in any way? If so, by whom? 6. Has the Commission membership remained constant since inception? Or if not what changes have occurred? 7. How many such cases have been considered by the commission? 8. How many such cases have resulted in no action? 9. How many such cases have resulted in return of questionable donations only? 10. How many such cases have resulted in referral to police or CPS? 11. How many such cases have resulted in prosecution? 12. What, if any, results categories not referred above have been concluded? 13. How many individuals have been the subject of more than one case to be considered by the Commission? Numbers? 14. Given that a number of recent cases indicate, that the £1000 declaration level for donations is treated as a level under which 'anything goes', is there any likelihood that registration of all donations will become a requirement? If so, time scale?

Request: FOI 6408

Please could you provide the following information. This request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 1. What is the legal status of the Electoral Commission? (e.g. Non-Departmental Government organisation?) 2. The Electoral Commission has sent letters of reprimand to recognised donees for the late declaration of donations. Can the Commission provide an example of a typical reprimand letter that the Commission has sent out? (Obviously, it is not necessary to have an example with the name of the actual recipient on.) 3. Please provide details of all cases where the Electoral Commission has imposed penalties on regulated doners, political parties, third parties and permitted participants for the late declaration of donations or other breaches of the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. 4. What date did the Electoral Commission commence its duties under the 2000 Act?

Request: FOI 6108

Please supply all correspondence and documentation (including, but not restricted to emails, letters, minutes of meetings, transcriptions of telephone conversations) relating to the investigation into the identities of the lenders of £5m worth of loans to the conservative party that were returned by the party in March 2006 and the investigation as to whether the terms of these loans were commercial or not.

Request: FOI 6008

Complete Copies of all documents held by the Commission relating to complaints made by the BNP (and those individuals purporting to act on behalf of the BNP) against the work of Searchlight Information Services Ltd or in the name of 'Hope not hate' and 'Stop the BNP'. This request also encompasses complaints/enquiries made against other organisations including Unite Against fascism (UAF). I would also respectfully request that it also includes replies given by the Electoral Commission in response to these complaints'

Request: FOI 5808

Please could you provide me with a list of materials contained within ""eXtra"", the electoral administrator's password-protected area of the Electoral Commission website.

Request: FOI 5608

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2005 please provide all the information (ie.emails, documentation) in relation to any investigations or correspondence in relation to allegations or suspicions raised about the issue of electoral fraud concerning public representatives (to include councillors, MLA's and MP's) in Northern Ireland within the past two years.

Request: FOI 5508

Under the Freedom of Information the following is requested: 1) That the Commission give a justification for its decision and state why the we have decided it wasn’t appropriate or in the public interest; 2) Whether Ms Alexander was interviewed under caution; and 3) Why has this ‘basic information’ not been made available?

Request: FOI 5408

Regarding the 2001 report entitled "Postal votes, proxies votes and ballot papers at the 2001 general election" http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/postalvotes_6582-6177__E__N__S__W__.pdf. The statement referred to and question is this: "The Commission is aware of postal votes being sent to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and the completed ballot papers being returned in time to be included in the count." I would like to informally request what information you did have to substantiate that statement for its inclusion in your report?

Request: FOI 5208

I am requesting to be informed in writing whether you hold information of the description specified below and if that is the case, to have the information communicated to me in accordance with s1 FOIA 2000. A copy of the register as required by s89 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, of any notification given to you under s88(1) of the act insofar as it relates to: (a) Operation Black Vote (b) Unison Trade Union I am also requesting a copy of the controlled expenditure returns-combined limits for both organisations.

Request: FOI 5108

What advice was given to the London Assembly election organisers regarding the use of cardboard ballot boxes? What other options were considered for ballot boxes (eg steel and plastic) and why weren't they used? Was there any considerations given to the security of ballot boxes?

Request: FOI 5008

Please could you send me all correspondence (emails, letters, minutes of meetings, transcriptions of telephone conversations) relating to the Commission's inquiries into whether the Midlands Industrial Council complies with the regulations governing donations to regulated donees. Also all details of the Commission's decision at the end of that inquiry and why it came to that decision.