Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Justin Tomlinson Excerpts
Wednesday 21st February 2018

(6 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chloe Smith Portrait Chloe Smith
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The local authorities involved in the pilots are ensuring that nobody will be left behind in the way the hon. Gentleman might fear. They will provide ID if a voter does not have it, in the format of, for example, barcoded poll cards or letters that are relevant on the day. Those kinds of issues remind us why it is important to do pilots to test things out

Justin Tomlinson Portrait Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)
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The award-winning elections team in Swindon will deliver one of those pilots. Does the Minister agree that it is staggering that Labour opposes a change that is no different from collecting a parcel from the post office?

Chloe Smith Portrait Chloe Smith
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That is absolutely right. Anybody who might oppose these measures should think very, very carefully. We already ask that people prove who they are when they go to collect a parcel, rent a home, buy a home, rent a car, or travel; it is normal to use ID in everyday life.