General Election: Voting Deadline

Baroness Campbell of Surbiton Excerpts

Wednesday 7th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

I think that my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has already given the assurance that he will consult widely.

[Baroness Campbell of Surbiton]

My Lords—

[Lord Naseby]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton, wishes to speak.

[Baroness Campbell of Surbiton]

My Lords, do the Government realise that there has been no progress on disability access to polling stations since 2005, according to the Scope research that has just been published? What steps will the Government take to make sure that disabled people can vote in the next election and vote for reform in 2011?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, I have not seen the Scope research, but I will certainly study it. It is very important that all sections of our community, with any measure of disability, should be able to vote. One thing that I know is being considered is electronic voting, which might be an alternative for people with disabilities. But I take the noble Baroness’s point: disabled people, just like anyone else, want to exercise their vote personally at a polling station. We will look into that.