Political Parties and Elections Bill

That, in a sense, is an appeal. The appeal is to say that they are not the person concerned and that they have been wrongly served with this notice. The notice is a very serious legal document. To be served with such a document is absolutely appropriate, if it is right and it is to the right person in the right terms about the right case. If you are not that person and you are challenged on your identity, there ought to be provision for an appeal. Our amendment provides for that appeal. Again, it is not something that will be open-ended or will thwart the work of the commission. We have said that it should happen within 14 days of receipt of the disclosure notice. It also puts down a marker on the commission’s work that says that disclosure notices cannot be sent out to secure information; there must be clear grounds for the disclosure notice to be forwarded to the named individual. Therefore, if that person feels that the notice has been inappropriately served on them, they should have the right of appeal. That is what the amendment seeks to do.