Date of acceptance of a donation
This has to be within 30 days of a donation being received (see date of receipt of a donation). During this time checks must be carried on the donor to ensure is has come from a permissible source (see permissible donors). A donation not returned within the 30-day period is deemed to have been accepted.
Date of receipt of a donation
This is the date on which a party takes possession of a donation or learns that the payment has been made. Thus, where the donation has been paid into a party's bank (or other financial) account, this is the date on which the party is notified in the usual way of that payment. For example, if a donation is paid into a party's bank account on 31 March, and the party is first informed of this donation when it appears on the next bank statement, which is received on 15 April, this latter date is the relevant date of receipt, whether or not the statement is read on that day.
Declaration of exemption
A declaration to the Electoral Commission, signed by the responsible officers of a party that the party does not intend to contest a particular general election (or any Parliamentary elections).
Designated organisations
The Electoral Commission may designate one permitted participant to represent each outcome of a referendum. If no applicants are considered to be properly representative the Commission does not have to designate campaign organisations. However, if the Commission designates for one outcome, if must also designate for the other outcome(s).
Designated organisations will receive equal grants of up to £600,000 from the Commission. These grants are provided to ensure a minimum level of campaign activity on each side. Designated organisations have a spending limit of £5 million and are also provided with free facilities similar to those provided to political parties at elections. These include the delivery of a referendum address to each household in the referendum area, the provision of free broadcasts and the use of public buildings for holding public meetings.
Devolved legislature
The UK has three devolved legislatures. These are:
- Scottish Parliament
- National Assembly for Wales
- Northern Ireland Assembly
Disputed claim
Where a claim for payment in respect of campaign expenditure incurred by or on behalf of a party has been correctly submitted within 21 days of the end of the relevant period, and the person to whom the claim has been submitted fails or refuses to pay the claim within the period of 42 days from the end of the relevant period.
District council
A body elected by electors in a district, which serves and represents the area defined by the district boundaries. See also county council.
Donation from an exempt trust
Any donation received from a trustee of any property in accordance with the terms of a trust which either:
(a) was created before 27 July 1999:
- to which no property has been transferred on or after that date, and
- whose terms have not been varied on or after that date provided that the trustee gives the recipient of the donation (no later than the date on which the donation is received) all relevant details
or
(b) was created by:
- a person who was a permissible donor at the time when the trust was created, or
- the will of a person who was a permissible donor at the time of their death and to which no property has been transferred except by a person who was a permissible donor at the time of the transfer, provided that the trustee gives the recipient of the donation (no later than the date on which the donation is received) all relevant details, and (in the case of either type of exempt trust) that the donation has not been made by the exercise of any discretion which is vested by the trust in the trustee or any other person
