Political Parties and Elections Bill

First, I should say how much I appreciate the fact that the Government have picked up the point that I made in Second Reading about the level of this flexibility for the chief executive. It is absolutely right that that should happen; I also think that it is right that they have to have that consultation with the Speaker’s Committee, which, at the end of the day, will no doubt be the body that takes the decision. I have no doubt that the chief executive will listen with care to whatever the Speaker’s Committee says. I wanted to make that point. Having listened to the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, I want to make another point. I accept that if someone is in a politically sensitive post, obviously it might be important that there is a longer term. However, the clause states that in deciding what that period should be, the chief executive shall take account not only of the level of seniority of the post, but ""how likely it is that any holder of the post will be required to deal with politically sensitive matters"." In fact, the clause covers the points that the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, made. Perhaps I may say again how grateful I am and, I am sure, how grateful the chief executive of the commission is that he will now have the flexibility to—