Scotland Bill

Debate between Angus Robertson and David Crausby

Monday 15th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Angus Robertson]

I beg to move amendment 60, page 2, line 7, leave out “Section B3 of”

[The Temporary Chair (Mr David Crausby)]

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:

Amendment 61, page 2, line 9, leave out from “Under the heading” to end of line 29 on page 3 and insert—

‘(2) In Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, for Section B3 (elections) substitute—

“B3 Elections

Elections for membership of the House of Commons and the European Parliament, including the subject matter of —

(a) the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002,

(b) the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Representation of the People Act 1985, and

(c) the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986,

so far as those enactments apply, or may apply, in respect of such membership.

Paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to the subject matter of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002; and the reference to the subject matter of that Act is to be construed as a reference to it as at 24 July 2002 (the date that Act received Royal Assent).

(B) Elections for membership of the Parliament and local government elections

The holding of the poll at an ordinary general election for membership of the Parliament on the same day as the poll at—

(d) a parliamentary general election (other than an early such election),

(e) a European parliamentary general election, or

(f) an ordinary local government election in Scotland.

The combination of polls at—

(a) elections for membership of the Parliament, or

(h) local government elections,

with polls at elections or referendums that are outside the legislative competence of the Parliament.

Modifying the digital service for the purposes of applications for registration or for verifying information contained in such applications.

The subject matter of Parts 5 and 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in relation to polls at elections that are within the legislative competence of the Parliament where they are combined with polls at elections for membership of the House of Commons and the European Parliament.

“Digital service” has the meaning given by regulation 3(1) of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 as at the day on which the Scotland Act 2015 received Royal Assent.

Paragraph 5(1) of Part 3 of this Schedule does not apply to the subject matter of Parts 5 and 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and the reference to the subject-matter of those Parts of that Act is to be read as at the day on which the Scotland Act 2015 received Royal Assent.””

This amendment provides substitute text for the Section B3 Elections reservation in Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 which makes the effects clearer. Part (A) reserves elections for membership of the House of Commons and the European Parliament. Part (B) refers to Scottish Parliament elections and local government elections in Scotland.

Amendment 42, page 2, leave out lines 24 to 26.

Government amendments 92 to 98.

Clause 3 stand part.

Amendment 44, in clause 4, page 3, line 42, at end insert

“including provisions about the impact of the ending of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration on the completeness of the register.”

Amendment 46, in clause 4, page 3, line 42, at end insert

“including the automatic registration of eligible electors,”.

The Amendment would give Scottish Ministers power to make provision for automatic registration for Scottish Parliament and Scottish local elections. In its Fourth Report of Session 2014-15 (HC 232), the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee reaffirmed its view that voters should ideally be registered to vote automatically.

Amendment 47, in clause 4, page 3, line 42, at end insert—

“(b) about online voting in elections,”

The Amendment would give Scottish Ministers power to make provision for online voting for Scottish Parliament and Scottish local elections. According to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee in its Fourth Report of Session 2014-15 (HC 232), online voting could lead to a substantial increase in the level of participation.

Government amendments 99 and 100.

Clause 4 stand part.

Government amendment 101.

Amendment 43, in clause 5, page 6, line 8, at end insert—

“(c) A referendum called under reserved powers”.

Clause 5 stand part.

Government amendments 102 to 105.

Clauses 6 to 8 stand part.

Government amendments 106 and 107.

Clause 9 stand part.

New clause 11—Electoral registration: requirement to produce report—

‘(1) The Electoral Commission shall prepare and publish guidance setting out, in relation to Scotland, how to further improve the electoral registration process and how to ensure the completeness of the electoral registers.

(2) Guidance under subsection (1) must in particular include—

(a) workable proposals for prompting people to register to vote or update their registration details when using other public services;

(b) whether to allow schools, universities and colleges to block-register students;

(c) whether to pilot election day registration; and

(d) other proposals to ensure that greater numbers of attainers join the electoral register.”

The New Clause would require the Electoral Commission to produce a report into ways of further improving the electoral registration process and of ensuring the completeness of the electoral registers in Scotland.