Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 2 March 2017 to Questions 65453, 65456 and 65480, what criteria the Government uses to determine which factors to test for their effects on voter turn out.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
In our response to Securing the Ballot, the Government agreed with Sir Eric that voter identification measures should be explored further, as a means of addressing some existing vulnerabilities in the electoral system.
The Government’s view is that, before any decisions can be taken about the suitability of voter identification to elections in Britain, such measures should first be subject to thorough and rigorous testing in a number of pilot schemes. This will enable us to accurately determine the impact of asking voters to present identification on all aspects of the electoral process, including on such important factors as an elector’s likelihood of turning out.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his letter of 20 February 2017 to the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Democratic Participation, (a) how the Government will measure the effect of the voter ID pilots on turnout and (b) by what criteria voter identification would be deemed a deterrent to the number of people voting.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government’s response to Sir Eric Pickles’ review of electoral fraud, Securing the ballot, outlined the Government’s intention to run a number of pilot schemes at local government elections in May 2018. Over the coming weeks and months, the Government will be working with our key electoral partners (including the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators) to set out the timing and methodology of the pilot schemes. My letter of 20 February to my Right Honourable friend, the Member for Loughborough, outlined that the purpose of the pilot schemes is to test the impact of voter identification measures on the electoral process as a whole, including on factors such as turnout.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the effect of severe weather conditions on (a) turnout for the EU referendum on 23 June 2016 and (b) turnout for the Stoke-on-Trent and Copeland by-elections on 23 February 2017.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Turnout at elections can be affected by a range of factors and it is difficult to apply impacts to any particular factor. We do not make assessments specifically focused on the effect of the weather on electoral turnout.
We have no current plans to introduce online voting.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing provision for remote online voting in areas affected by adverse weather conditions.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Turnout at elections can be affected by a range of factors and it is difficult to apply impacts to any particular factor. We do not make assessments specifically focused on the effect of the weather on electoral turnout.
We have no current plans to introduce online voting.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release of 6 April 2016, entitled Government responds to public desire for EU facts, if the Government will provide a detailed budget breakdown for the digital promotion and website costs associated with the campaign aimed at helping the public make an informed decision in the forthcoming EU referendum.
Answered by John Penrose
I refer the hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex of 14 April 2016.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to confirm and add attainers and young voters to the electoral register before December 2015.
Answered by John Penrose
Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are currently conducting the first full canvass of households under Individual Electoral Registration (IER). This will help to identify new attainers with Household Enquiry Forms specifically asking for the names of all residents who are over the age of 16.
The Government has funded youth organisations, including Active Citizens FE, Bite the Ballot and UK Youth, for activities that engage attainers and young people in the democratic process. Cabinet Office has also developed free resources, including Rock Enrol!, for use in schools, colleges and youth groups to encourage people to participate in democracy and register to vote.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the successful Schools Initiative in Northern Ireland established to increase voter registration among 16 to 18 year olds to other parts of the UK before the next 2015 deadline for electoral registration.
Answered by John Penrose
The most recent report by the Electoral Commission (November 2012) on completeness and accuracy of the register in Northern Ireland showed that 51% of 18 - 19 year olds were registered to vote compared to 76% in Great Britain. The Government has no current plans to extend the Northern Ireland Schools Initiative to the rest of the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of lessons learned from the successful Schools Initiative in Northern Ireland established to increase voter registration among attainers and young voters.
Answered by John Penrose
The most recent report by the Electoral Commission (November 2012) on completeness and accuracy of the register in Northern Ireland showed that 51% of 18 - 19 year olds were registered to vote compared to 76% in Great Britain. The Government has no current plans to extend the Northern Ireland Schools Initiative to the rest of the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Graham Allen (Labour - Nottingham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the average time from receipt by the Charity Commissioners of an application to become a charity to final approval of that application; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply.