Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 13 March (HL15001), whether the review of election documentation will be completed in time for any necessary changes to primary legislation to be incorporated in the Representation of the People Bill.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The planned review of election documentation will not be completed in time for any changes to be included in the Representation of the People Bill.
However, the Government is planning to consolidate existing legislation regarding election documentation using the powers from the bill. This will make it simpler for the Government to make improvements to the prescribed format and design of electoral documents through secondary legislation, including potential changes informed by the outcomes of the review.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government why there is a lower total spending limit set by section 94(3)(a)(ai) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 than the individual constituency limit set by section 94(3)(a)(ii).
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Elections Act 2022 inserted section 94(3)(a)(ai) into PPERA, and in doing so introduced the £10,000 threshold for registering with the Electoral Commission for campaign expenditure during a UK Parliamentary general election or general election to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Third‑party campaigners spending above £10,000 across the UK must register with the Electoral Commission, after which the limits in Schedule 10 PPERA and the constituency limit set by section 93(3)(a)(ii) apply.
Full guidance on spending rules for third-party campaigners is available on the Electoral Commission’s website here.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of the design of poll cards; and whether they have plans to improve the effectiveness of poll cards in communicating electoral information to voters.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government is committed to improving the voting experience for electors, helping ensure they have the information they need to participate confidently in the democratic process.
The 2024-25 strategic review of electoral registration and conduct highlighted the need to improve election documentation, including the content of forms sent to electors ahead of polls, such as poll cards. In response to this, and as part of our wider work to improve information for electors, the government intends in the future to consider how best to enhance the design and clarity of poll cards.
Any work in this area will be conducted in close collaboration with local authorities and the Electoral Commission.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is sufficient legal certainty about who is eligible to stand as a candidate in postponed local elections.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Legislation that postpones a council’s elections does not alter the statutory requirements for candidacy; the only adjustment is that the relevant period runs up to the rescheduled election date rather than the original date.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what dates were the first and last payments they agreed for each of the past five sets of elections, excluding by-elections, for which returning officers received payments from the Consolidated Fund.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government has not agreed any of the initial payments for the last five sets of elections funded from the Consolidated Fund. However, it will be responsible for settling the claims for both the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections and the 2024 UK parliamentary general election. The timing of the final payments will depend on when responses to any queries for the last outstanding claims for each poll are submitted and payments settled.
Payments to statutorily independent Returning Officers (ROs) for UK parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner polls are made from the Consolidated Fund. An advance payment – typically 75% of the estimated cost – is issued in advance of the election, meaning ROs are not required to meet election costs upfront or wait a considerable length of time for the majority of the funding. The final payment reflects the balance due, following scrutiny and agreement of the expenses claim.
The table below sets out the dates of the first and last payments agreed for each of the last five sets of elections, based on records held by the Department. These figures relate to claims made by ROs for reimbursement of properly incurred costs.
Poll | First Payment | Last Payment |
2024 UK Parliamentary GE | 24/04/2024 | In progress |
2024 Police and Crime Commissioner | 20/03/2024 | In progress |
2021 Police and Crime Commissioner | 16/04/2021 | 21/05/2025 |
2019 UK Parliamentary GE | 15/11/2019 | 02/02/2024 |
2019 European Parliamentary | 21/05/2019 | 22/01/2021 |
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on reimbursement to Returning Officers for (1) poll card printing, and (2) poll card distributions, in each of the past eight years.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The cost of poll card printing and postage for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and UK parliamentary elections from 2015 onwards are published in detail in the corresponding reports found here.
The costs for the 2021 and 2024 PCC and the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election will be available once all the relevant claims have been received, scrutinised and settled. This data will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Pack (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review and update the Registered Parties (Non-constituent and Non-affiliated Organisations) Order 2000 (SI 2000/3183), as amended in 2002 and 2004.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The government does not currently have plans to review the Registered Parties (Non-constituent and Non-affiliated Organisations) Order 2000.