Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Goodman Excerpts

Wednesday 19th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

My colleagues in the Cabinet Office and in the Department for Transport are working together to ensure that everything is as smooth as it can be. However, I would reiterate that the best way to have a smooth solution to all this is to support the withdrawal agreement that the Prime Minister is putting before this House.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

5. What progress his Department has made on further voter ID pilots.

[Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con)]

10. Whether the Government plans to conduct further voter ID pilots; and if he will make a statement.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith)]

The British public deserve to have confidence in our democracy. A diverse range of local authorities have confirmed that they will be taking part in voter ID and postal vote pilots for the 2019 local elections. The pilots will provide further insights into ensuring the security of the voting process.

[Helen Goodman]

I am grateful for that answer. Bishop Auckland has the lowest rate of passport ownership in the entire country. Does not the Minister understand that expensive forms of voter ID will exclude thousands of people from exercising their democratic right to vote?

[Chloe Smith]

Yes, I do; the design of the pilots acknowledges that and makes sure that a free-of-charge alternative will be available.