Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Thursday 17th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

The Home Secretary is always right.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

What assessment his Department has made of the accessibility of voting for blind and partially sighted people.

[The Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt)]

The Government are committed to ensuring that elections are accessible for all those eligible to vote and have been working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to improve the voting process for blind and partially sighted people.

[Liz Twist]

What steps is the Minister taking to introduce the recommendations made in the RNIB’s most recent report, which found that only one in 10 blind voters and less than half of partially sighted voters could vote independently and in secret in the 2019 general election?

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this important issue and for the work she has done on improving the situation. We have been working intensively with the RNIB. Any systems and reforms that are brought in do need to be tested, and it is unfortunate that the cancellation of the elections this year has meant that we have not had that opportunity. But we will do next year. We are determined that, whether someone wants to vote in person or via post, they have a method of doing so that meets their needs and is secure.