Political Parties and Elections Bill

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Gould, for giving me a millisecond to think of an answer to the question about the Caribbean. I am sure that many officials at the Ministry of Justice would volunteer for such a fine trip out to that wonderful part of the world. The noble Lord makes a good point, but this is a probing amendment. Twenty-nine people have been prosecuted under the 2002 Act, resulting in 23 convictions. The amendment would not impose too onerous an obligation. Given that the Bill recognises that the Electoral Commission should apply its judgment, one would hope that it would apply some judgment as to where it found the individual residing at the time. If the person were to be based in the Caribbean, as in the noble Lord’s example, how would the Electoral Commission know that the letter had been received? Would it have an accurate mailing address by which to contact the person? Her Majesty's Government’s reach extends to far and away places through ambassadors’ posts and chargés d’affaires. Other people could therefore be called on to serve a notice on behalf of an agency of Her Majesty's Government if that were required. I am merely saying by way of this amendment that if the Minister could give some statement as to how the commission intends to ensure that these important notices reach safely and in a timely manner the hands of those for whom they are designed, I would be very grateful, and would reserve any other comments for my response if necessary. I beg to move.