Policy Threads

28 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which events and actions depicted in Channel 4’s Dirty Business took place; and what plans they have to investigate whether the Enviro

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which events and actions depicted in Channel 4’s Dirty Business took place; and what plans they have to investigate whether the Environment Agency and its executives provided misleading inf

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25 Mar 2026 | Committee report linked

The Environment Agency told us that tackling illegal waste sites is also the responsibility of local authorities or the police. The Environment Agency lacks some powers to act, such as civil enforcement powers which are often faster and cheaper than criminal prosecutions.51 The Environment Agency told us about its actions to intervene at an illegal waste site at Kidlington in Oxfordshire. Once the Environment Agency received “confirmed intelligence” about the illegal waste dumping, it told us...

The Environment Agency told us that tackling illegal waste sites is also the responsibility of local authorities or the police. The Environment Agency lacks some powers to act, such as civil enforcement powers which are often faster and cheaper than …

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20 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

The Committee recognises the rationale behind advocating an expansion of the Electoral Commission’s investigatory and enforcement powers to provide maximum transparency to voters, incentivise regulatory compliance, and increase the pace of investigations and enforcement action. However, we believe more evidence is needed to ensure that any expanded powers for the Electoral Commission, such as powers to monitor and investigate in real-time and impose civil sanctions for breaches of candidate f...

The Committee recognises the rationale behind advocating an expansion of the Electoral Commission’s investigatory and enforcement powers to provide maximum transparency to voters, incentivise regulatory compliance, and increase the pace of investigations and enforcement action. However, we believe m

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20 Oct 2022 | Committee report linked

The Government should commit to reviewing the impact of the lower tier of registration for third party campaigners as part of its statutory review of the Elections Act 2022, due in four to five years› time, to be published and laid before Parliament. Any future reform to the regulatory powers of the Electoral Commission by the Government should consider the potential impact of deterring political engagement. We agree with the recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life that...

The Government should commit to reviewing the impact of the lower tier of registration for third party campaigners as part of its statutory review of the Elections Act 2022, due in four to five years› time, to be published and …

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20 Oct 2022 | Written evidence linked

We believe the Electoral Commission should be sensitive to the role of volunteers in campaigns and the potential for inadvertent reporting errors to occur. We welcome the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes to the Political Finance Online platform to support individuals to input their financial returns accurately. We agree with witnesses to our inquiry that the current maximum sanction of £20,000 for breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 may not act as an e...

We believe the Electoral Commission should be sensitive to the role of volunteers in campaigns and the potential for inadvertent reporting errors to occur. We welcome the Electoral Commission’s proposed changes to the Political Finance Online platform to support individuals …

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20 Oct 2022 | Written evidence linked

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, that the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose for breaches of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 should be increased to £500,000 or 4% of total campaign spend, whichever is higher. Equally, we believe that regulated individuals, parties, and campaigners should have the opportunity to amend minor, administrative reporting errors before civ...

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, that the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose for breaches of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 should …

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13 Dec 2021 | Committee report linked

We urge the Government to commit to review, monitor and report on potential criminal breaches under PPERA and their enforcement, which would assist in bringing forward any further legislative changes to either the civil and/or criminal sanctioning regimes. The Government should publish its findings and lay a Statement in Parliament every year.

We urge the Government to commit to review, monitor and report on potential criminal breaches under PPERA and their enforcement, which would assist in bringing forward any further legislative changes to either the civil and/or criminal sanctioning regimes. The Government …

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13 Dec 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government should also commit to undertaking a review of the civil sanctioning regime for electoral law offences and its interplay with criminal prosecutions under PPERA and the RPA, providing a timetable for consultation and review of the CSPL’s recommendations in this regard. (Paragraph 202) Regulation of Expenditure

The Government should also commit to undertaking a review of the civil sanctioning regime for electoral law offences and its interplay with criminal prosecutions under PPERA and the RPA, providing a timetable for consultation and review of the CSPL’s recommendations …

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