Recognised third parties
See third parties/recognised third parties.
Regulated donees
Regulated donees are:
• Members of registered political parties
• Holders of relevant elective office
• Members associations
They are subject to controls on donations and loans they accept in connection with their political activities.
Regulated period
The period imposed by Schedule 10 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 during which the limit on controlled expenditure applies.
Relevant [campaign] period
The period imposed by Schedule 9 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 during which the limit on campaign expenditure applies.
Relevant election(s)
Can be any of the following:
- UK Parliamentary elections
- elections to the European Parliament
- elections to the Scottish Parliament
- elections to the National Assembly for Wales
- elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
- local government elections
- local elections in Northern Ireland
Related parties
Related parties are those whose connection with an accounting unit (AU) is close enough to leave the independence of either side or any decisions taken, open to question. This will include anyone who:
- holds assets that the AU uses and depends upon
- makes large or significant donations to the AU
- is a member of the AU and particularly where they have influence over the financial decisions made by the AU, e.g. if they sit on the AU's spending committees
- is an officer, employee or an agent for the AU or its party
As well as these individuals, the term also applies to any firm or institution under the control of any of those listed above, or in which any of them is a partner. It includes companies or other incorporated bodies in which a connected person has a substantial interest. In addition, where a transaction is undertaken with a close relative (i.e. a dependent or partner of one of those listed above), that person may also be considered to be a connected person and any transactions undertaken with them should also be disclosed.
A disclosure note should provide the name of the related party and the AU's relationship with them and a description of the transaction together with the amounts involved and any other relevant information that would provide a better understanding of the financial statement. The aim of this disclosure note is to ensure transparency in the AU's transactions, where business is carried out with those that have a connection with the AU. It is intended that only financially significant or material transactions with related parties be reported in the notes.
For example, the spouse of the Chair of the Finance Committee owns a printing company. The company is asked to print the AU's quarterly information leaflet. If the AU is charged the normal commercial rate for the printing, the disclosure note should include details of how the AU is connected to the company. Where the AU is charged the normal commercial rate for the printing, the total of the payments made to the company should be given. Where the AU is charged less than the commercial rate, the element of notional expenditure and notional income should also be shown in addition to the amount actually paid.
Representation of the People Act 1983
The Representation of the People Act 1983 established controls on the expenses that candidates can incur in the period before an election. The restrictions on election expenses are based on controls that have governed candidates' election expenses since the nineteenth century and predate the separate limits controlling expenditure by political parties introduced by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
