Franchise: British Citizens Abroad

Debate between Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen and Lord Lexden

Thursday 20th October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lexden]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to extend voting rights in parliamentary elections to British citizens who have been living abroad for 15 years or more.

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Con)]

My Lords, I have good news. I am pleased to confirm that the Government have published details of their approach to removing the current 15-year rule on British citizens living overseas voting in parliamentary elections. I informed this House of that by means of a Written Statement on 10 October. The policy statement sets out in detail how we plan to remove the current rule that means British citizens overseas can vote only for 15 years from the point they were last registered to vote in the UK. The Government intend to give the right to vote to all British citizens overseas who were previously resident or registered to vote in the UK. The Government welcome feedback on these proposals from any interested party.

[Lord Lexden (Con)]

My Lords, the policy document to which my noble friend made reference is most welcome but do the Government understand the deep concern that has arisen among British citizens living overseas given that the legislation so clearly promised in the Conservative election manifesto has not yet been introduced? When will it see the light of day? Can the Government give an absolute commitment that all our fellow countrymen and women living abroad will be able to vote in the next general election?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

I thank my noble friend for that. Introducing votes for life will require primary legislation to amend the Representation of the People Act 1985 and associated secondary legislation. There is no current timetable for introducing the Bill but the intention is to have the new arrangements in place ahead of the next scheduled general election in 2020.

NHS England: HIV Prevention

Debate between Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen and Lord Lexden

Tuesday 18th October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

As I said earlier, we have difficult decisions to take. It is not up to the Government to decide this. As with all new drugs, these are properly assessed for cost and effectiveness to see how they can be commissioned in the most sustainable and integrated way.

[Lord Lexden (Con)]

Are the Government content to let expensive legal wrangling on this matter continue? Is it not time that the Secretary of State thought of using the powers that he possesses to intervene in this tragic and costly dispute?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

I think that we are about to get a decision on the dispute; in fact, we thought it would be this week. It will probably be by the end of this week or the beginning of next.

Voter Registration

Debate between Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen and Lord Lexden

Thursday 12th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lexden]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proportion of registered electors turned away from polling stations as part of the recent devolved, regional and local elections, whether they have plans to enact the recommendations of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Democratic Participation report, Getting the ‘Missing Millions’ on to the Electoral Register, including the use of electronic poll books and registering young people to vote in school.

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Con)]

My Lords, the Government welcome the interest from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Democratic Participation. As noble Lords may be aware, the Minister for Constitutional Reform has set out an ambitious vision for reforming electoral registration in this Parliament so that it is more efficient, digital and convenient for the elector, building on the success of individual electoral registration and online registration.

[Lord Lexden (Con)]

I hope the Government will give careful consideration to every one of the 25 recommendations in this important all-party report. In particular, will they note the very strong recommendation that every young person should be able—indeed, given every encouragement—to register to vote in school following the markedly successful initiative recently undertaken by the Northern Ireland Electoral Office, which surely should be emulated in every part of our country?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

EROs already work with local schools in their area but of course the Government continue to welcome ideas and views on meeting this challenge. We already have several initiatives in schools which I mentioned in my earlier Answer.

General Election: Postal Voting Fraud

Debate between Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen and Lord Lexden

Thursday 4th June 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lexden]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent of postal voting fraud at the recent general election.

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Con)]

My Lords, the Government are not aware of any issues in relation to postal voting at the recent general election, although no formal assessment has been made. The Electoral Commission will produce a report on the general election in the coming months, which will include any concerns around the use of postal votes at the general election. A range of measures is in place to combat electoral fraud in the UK.

[Lord Lexden (Con)]

Do the Government agree with Mr Nazir Afzal, the former chief crown prosecutor for north-west England, who said last month:

“One of the big problems is that victims who have their votes”,


stolen or,

“taken from them won’t come forward … We need the police to be much more proactive”?

He added that consideration should be given to establishing,

“a national, high-profile police hotline”.

Will the Government also ensure that the large number of complaints by registered overseas electors who failed to receive the postal votes for which they applied are fully investigated and the results made public?

[Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen]

My Lords, we are in the early stages of a discussion with the Electoral Commission about how to take forward the manifesto commitment to ensure that it puts greater priority on tackling fraud. Obviously, all these issues will be considered in that discussion. On my noble friend’s second point concerning overseas voters, for the 2015 general election—as with future general elections—postal votes were able to be sent out as soon as practicable, 19 working days before the day of poll. These changes were made specifically to meet the needs of overseas voters.