Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Chloe Smith and Chris Philp(6 years, 8 months ago)
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Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con)
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith)
Electoral fraud is unacceptable at any level, and vulnerabilities cannot be allowed to continue to undermine the integrity of our democracy, so the Cabinet Office is working with five local authorities to pilot voter identification and with three others to pilot measures to improve the integrity of the postal and proxy vote processes.
Chris Philp
What efforts are being made to cross-reference the electoral roll with the immigration and nationality database to ensure that only people with eligible nationalities appear on the electoral roll and can therefore vote?
Chloe Smith
We entrust electoral registration officers to do that task, and we think it is very important that they do so. Electoral registration officers have the ability to make nationality checks where they believe it is appropriate. Indeed, this House also recently agreed to changes to the registration forms to emphasise to would-be voters that such checks will be made, and we think that is important.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Chloe Smith and Chris Philp(7 years, 2 months ago)
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Chris Philp (Croydon South) (Con)
3. What recent discussions he has had with the Irish Government on cross-border security.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Chloe Smith)
The UK Government have regular discussions with the Irish Government on a range of issues, including cross-border security. We work closely together to tackle security challenges and keep people on both sides of the border safe.
Chris Philp
Does my hon. Friend agree that, as we leave the European Union, close co-operation with the Government of Ireland on security will be extremely important? Can she assure the House that that will be a top priority in the coming negotiations?
Chloe Smith
Yes—in short, I certainly can. Co-operation with the Irish authorities is already strong. We wish to see that continue. If I may, I will take this opportunity to commend the security services and police on both sides of the border for all that they do to keep individuals safe.