Lord Greaves Portrait

Lord Greaves

Liberal Democrat - Life peer

Became Member: 4th May 2000

Left House: 23rd March 2021 (Death)


Lord Greaves is not a member of any APPGs
2 Former APPG memberships
Land Value Capture, Local Democracy
Procedure and Privileges Committee
12th Jun 2014 - 27th Apr 2017
Draft Marine Bill (Joint Committee)
13th May 2008 - 22nd Jul 2008
Standing Orders (Private Bills) Committee (Lords)
14th Dec 2000 - 7th May 2005


Division Voting information

Lord Greaves has voted in 575 divisions, and 37 times against the majority of their Party.

11 Mar 2015 - Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 68 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 174 Noes - 231
4 Mar 2015 - Deregulation Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 87 Noes - 145
11 Feb 2015 - Deregulation Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 50 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 197 Noes - 208
9 Dec 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 26 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 52 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 304 Noes - 240
9 Dec 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 47 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 274 Noes - 205
9 Dec 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 11 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 47 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 210 Noes - 192
26 Nov 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 65 Noes - 124
19 Nov 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 57 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 183 Noes - 171
22 Oct 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 50 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 186 Noes - 185
22 Oct 2014 - Criminal Justice and Courts Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 50 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 191
15 Jan 2014 - Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 28 Noes - 148
26 Mar 2013 - Growth and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 54 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 217 Noes - 211
26 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 158 Noes - 174
20 Mar 2013 - Growth and Infrastructure Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 51 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 232 Noes - 178
6 Mar 2013 - Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 54 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 206
6 Mar 2013 - Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 56 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 192
5 Feb 2013 - NHS Bodies and Local Authorities (Partnership Arrangements, Care Trusts, Public Health and Local Healthwatch) Regulations 2012 - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 46 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 113 Noes - 145
21 Nov 2012 - Justice and Security Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 25 Noes - 164
16 Oct 2012 - National Health Service (Clinical Commissioning Groups) Regulations 2012 - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 128 Noes - 161
19 Mar 2012 - Health and Social Care Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 71 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 174 Noes - 269
25 Jan 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 128
23 Jan 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 17 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 222 Noes - 250
23 Jan 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 25 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 252 Noes - 237
12 Oct 2011 - Health and Social Care Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 77 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 220 Noes - 354
14 Jul 2011 - Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 135 Noes - 136
15 Jun 2011 - Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 18 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 47 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 209 Noes - 203
11 May 2011 - Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 35 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 188 Noes - 176
10 May 2011 - Jobseeker’s Allowance (Mandatory Work Activity Scheme) Regulations 2011 - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 122 Noes - 155
19 Jan 2011 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 44 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 196 Noes - 122
21 Dec 2010 - Identity Documents Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 156 Noes - 112
29 Nov 2010 - Public Bodies Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 147 Noes - 156
9 Nov 2010 - Public Bodies Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 35 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 151 Noes - 188
6 May 2009 - Health Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 110 Noes - 204
29 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 34 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 39 Noes - 202
29 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 12 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 34 Noes - 105
15 Jan 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 96 Noes - 268
24 Oct 2006 - Education and Inspections Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Greaves voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 121 Noes - 208
View All Lord Greaves Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Hanham (Conservative)
(97 debate interactions)
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative)
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
(87 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Transport
(255 debate contributions)
Home Office
(116 debate contributions)
Northern Ireland Office
(78 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Agriculture Act 2020
(15,142 words contributed)
Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017
(6,095 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Lord Greaves's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Greaves, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Greaves has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Greaves has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
15 Other Department Questions
26th Nov 2018
To ask the Leader of the House whether there is a protocol relating to whether letters to ministers from members of the House of Lords should receive replies; and if so, how quickly replies should be sent.

The Government recognises the importance of effective and timely handling of correspondence with members of the House of Lords. Government departments should aim to provide a substantive response to routine correspondence within a maximum of 20 working days. However, sometimes circumstances dictate that it will not be possible to provide a response within this timeframe. In such instances, departments are advised to issue a ‘holding’ response until a more substantive response can be provided.

The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report detailing departmental performance in the handling of correspondence from members of both Houses. Lord Young of Cookham set out the 2017 performance figures in a Written Statement on 26 June 2018 (HLWS771). The 2018 performance figures will be published in summer 2019.

26th Oct 2017
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what quantity of (1) paper for recycling, (2) waste for incineration, and (3) residual refuse, was collected within the House of Lords in each of the last five years.

The Houses of Parliament do not receive a breakdown of waste by House so the figures and information below account for Estate wide totals.

(1) Since January 2012, Parliament has operated a mixed recycling scheme which captures paper, cardboard, plastics and cans as one waste stream and therefore we are not able to provide individual figures for paper collected as mixed recycling. Figures for mixed recycling (figures in kgs) are as follows:

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 (year to date)

382,514

407,977

371,572

382,439

363,665

(2) Figures for general waste (figures in kgs) which is processed through an energy-from-waste facility are as follows:

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 (year to date)

612,714

705,770

611,365

578,101

493,188

Parliament’s food waste from catering facilities is sent to an anaerobic digestion facility and while this is not incinerated, the resulting bio gas produced by this process can be burned directly in a gas boiler to produce electricity. Figures for catering waste (figures in kgs) are as follows:

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 (year to date)

160,973

194,474

136,285

195,082

180,755

(3) None of Parliament’s waste goes to landfill.

11th Jan 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many companies applied for petroleum exploration licences in the recent round; how many of those did not succeed; and of those, how many were rejected as a result of due diligence checks.

In the most recent (14th) Landward Licensing Round all applicants were required to demonstrate their financial viability and the financial capacity to carry out their respective proposed Work Programmes, and that they met residence requirements. The proposed operator in each case was also required to demonstrate the organisational capability and technical and environmental competence to operate to the necessary standards. Consideration was also given to each proposed operator’s past record (in the UK and elsewhere) of compliance with environmental legislative standards or requirements, any criminal or civil action taken against them for environmental reasons, convictions for breaches of environmental legislation and pending criminal or civil action for environmental breaches. Detailed guidance explaining requirements for applicants can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds


In the 14th Round, applications were invited on 28 July 2014, to be submitted by 28 October 2014. 95 applications from 71 companies were received. The Oil and Gas Authority has now offered 92 new licences and the extension of one existing licence to groups that included 43 companies. Of the companies to whom no offer was made, 12 had failed to satisfy the necessary financial criteria and five proposed operators had failed to demonstrate the necessary level of environmental awareness.


11th Jan 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what pre-application due diligence checks are made on companies which apply for petroleum exploration licences, or are associated with such applications, before those applications are accepted or granted; what checks are made on the previous records of the companies in the UK and other countries as part of such due diligence; and what criteria are applied in decisions about whether a company is accepted as suitable to bid for such licences.

In the most recent (14th) Landward Licensing Round all applicants were required to demonstrate their financial viability and the financial capacity to carry out their respective proposed Work Programmes, and that they met residence requirements. The proposed operator in each case was also required to demonstrate the organisational capability and technical and environmental competence to operate to the necessary standards. Consideration was also given to each proposed operator’s past record (in the UK and elsewhere) of compliance with environmental legislative standards or requirements, any criminal or civil action taken against them for environmental reasons, convictions for breaches of environmental legislation and pending criminal or civil action for environmental breaches. Detailed guidance explaining requirements for applicants can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-licensing-rounds


In the 14th Round, applications were invited on 28 July 2014, to be submitted by 28 October 2014. 95 applications from 71 companies were received. The Oil and Gas Authority has now offered 92 new licences and the extension of one existing licence to groups that included 43 companies. Of the companies to whom no offer was made, 12 had failed to satisfy the necessary financial criteria and five proposed operators had failed to demonstrate the necessary level of environmental awareness.


3rd Dec 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of (1) batteries, and (2) other waste electrical and electronic equipment, are recycled by (a) domestic households, (b) small and medium-sized commercial enterprises, (c) large commercial enterprises, (d) government departments, (e) local authorities, and (f) other public sector bodies.

The Government does not hold information in the form requested, but the overall collection and recycling rates for 2014 for these products and equipment expressed as a percentage of tonnage placed on the market is: -

36% of portable batteries;

37% of waste electrical and electronic equipment.


Industrialand automotive batteries are subject to a landfill disposal ban. Accordingly, all such batteries have to be recycled.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
3rd Dec 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the reasons for closing the Routes into Languages project, what research informed that decision, and what assessment they have made of the consequences of closing that project.

Routes into Languages is a Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) funded project. The project’s steering group will consider the future of the programme as part of HEFCE’s budget process, taking account of the grant letter to be provided by the Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Secretary of State.

5th Nov 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by KPMG <i>Skills to Build?</i>, stating that housebuilding capacity could be restricted by a construction skills shortage; and whether they will take steps to increase the amount of education and training places for construction trades.

The Government has made no separate assessment of the KPMG report. There are a number of reports that provide a good indication of the skills the construction industry believes it will require between 2015 and 2019, for both housing and wider construction.


The Government values post-16 education, including construction education and training, highly. We have made substantial progress driving up the quality and rigour of the post-16 offer, and area-based reviews of 16+ provision are providing an opportunity for institutions and localities to restructure provision to achieve maximum impact.


Initiatives, by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), or flowing from the work of the Construction Leadership Council, are seeking to encourage more young people into construction careers including the launch of the GO-Construct website and work with the National Careers Service and Construction Ambassadors for schools. In addition the CITBhas developed a range of initiatives, working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Armed Forces resettlement service and Local Enterprise Partnerships, to encourage experienced individuals into the sector.


While CITB returned over £42m last year, supporting 18,500 first, second and third year construction apprentices, it is clear that the sector is not currently offering enough apprenticeships nor opportunities for young people to train. The 17,000 apprenticeships starts in 2015/16 is still some way below the 27,000 offered in 2006. The CITB has developed a number of shared apprenticeships schemes and reformed the grant process to encourage apprenticeship take up. In addition, the Government continues to pay AGE grant, on top of its usual support for the training of young apprentices, to encourage companies to take on their first apprentices.



At the summer budget the Chancellor announced a levy on large employers across all sectors to fund apprenticeships. This will link larger employers directly to its skills investment and promote the value, and drive the uptake, of apprenticeships.


The Chancellor will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy, including the scope and rate, at the Spending Review.


Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
2nd Nov 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the difficulties associated with the insulation of external walls of traditional terraced housing and other older properties with solid walls rather than cavity walls, and whether they are supporting, or will support, research into practical solutions for insulating such walls.

The Government has a number of ongoing projects to investigate issues surrounding solid wall insulation, including monitoring current installation practices (DECC), modelling the risks of unintended moisture-related problems (DCLG and DECC), preparing practical guidance for industry to reduce the risks of such problems (DECC) and a wider high-level study of solid wall insulation issues (BIS – the Hansford report, to be published on 12 November).


The Government recognises that it is important that we do more and that is why we have commissioned Dr Peter Bonfield to undertake an Independent Review into Consumer Advice, Protection, Standards and Enforcement for both energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Review is due to report in March 2016 and represents a real opportunity to put energy efficiency on a more consumer-focussed and sustainable long-term path for the future.


22nd Oct 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether companies carrying out hydraulic fracturing operations in the United Kingdom must provide full details of the chemicals that they use including all the ingredients of proprietary products, and whether this information will be made available to the public.

Operators are required to disclose fully the composition of fracturing fluid additives as part of their application for environmental permits. The Environment Agency (EA) assesses the hazards presented by fracturing fluid additives or drilling muds on a case-by-case basis and will not permit the use of chemicals hazardous to groundwater where they may enter groundwater and cause pollution. The EA has the power to restrict or prohibit the use of any substances where they would pose an environmental risk.


Information on chemical substances and their maximum concentrations is included within the environmental permit. The permit is placed on the public register.


17th Sep 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Prime Minister on 11 September (HC9076), on what evidence they base the statement that "investment in shale could reach £33 billion and support 64,000 jobs in the oil, gas, construction, engineering and chemical sectors"; how many wells would be required to achieve such levels of investment and employment; and over what time period such levels would be achieved.

EY’s 2014 report, ‘Getting Ready for UK Shale Gas: Supply chain and skills requirements and opportunities’ identifies that over the period of 2016–32 c.£33bn of spend could be required to bring up to 4,000 wells into production. At peak this equates to around £3.3bn of spend and some 64,500 jobs (6,100 of which are direct roles).

The full report can be viewed at:

http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Getting_ready_for_UK_shale_gas/$FILE/EY-Getting-ready-for-UK-shale-gas-April-2014.pdf

8th Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in respect of which areas (1) they have granted licences for exploratory drilling in relation to fracking, (2) applications have been made for such licences but have not yet been determined, and (3) applications have been made for planning permission relating to exploratory drilling for fracking.

Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs) are not specific to shale gas. They grant exclusive rights to extract hydrocarbons, including shale gas but also other forms, within a particular onshore area. A separate consent is required before any drilling or hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can take place. So far the Government has granted hydraulic fracking consent for shale to Cuadrilla’s Lancashire operations.

The Oil & Gas Authority does not have any undetermined consent applications. Applications for new PEDLs under the 14th Onshore Licensing Round are being considered – 95 applications for 295 licence blocks have been made.

Planning permission is a matter for the local Mineral Planning Authority. However, the applications submitted by Cuadrilla in Lancashire and by Third Energy in North Yorkshire are in the public domain.

11th Mar 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the advance payment of £100,000 to local communities for every site fracked during exploratory fracking is voluntary or whether it is a condition of a licence being granted.

The shale gas industry has made a commitment to the Community Engagement Charter, co-ordinated by its representative body UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which includes a commitment to provide benefits to local communities at the exploration/appraisal stage of a minimum £100,000 per well site where hydraulic fracturing takes place.

The Infrastructure Act 2015 introduced a range of further requirements that must be met before an operator can carry out hydraulic fracturing. Once these provisions come into force, the Government will not issue a hydraulic fracturing consent unless satisfied that a scheme is in place to provide financial or other benefit for the local area.

A Sovereign Wealth Fund would ensure that revenues from shale gas and oil are put to good use. Proposals will be brought forward in the next Parliament.

26th Feb 2015
To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the expected length of time between external mail arriving at the Parliamentary Estate and its delivery to Lords’ offices; and what is the average time taken.

There are frequent deliveries of mail from the mail screening centre to the Estate. Mail received from the centre before 6.40am is delivered to Members’ offices between 9am and 10am. Mail received between 6.40am and 10am is delivered between 12noon and 1pm. Any mail received later is delivered the following working day.

Delivery of courier items received at the Parcel Office between 8am and 3pm is attempted within two hours. Items received after 3pm are delivered by 10am the following working day.

Royal Mail items requiring signature received before 1.30pm are delivered in a round beginning at 2pm; if items are delayed another round is carried out at 4pm.

29th Jan 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have communicated with Lancashire County Council over the planning applications by Cuadrilla for fracking at Roseacre Wood and Little Plumpton; and if so when and by what means they did so, and what was the purport of any communication.

Communications between Her Majesty’s Government and Lancashire County Council have been carried out in accordance with the “Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues” published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in February 2012. The merits of the planning applications at Roseacre Wood and Little Plumpton have not been discussed.

Officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government communicated with officials from Lancashire County Council by telephone and by e-mail in September and October 2014 to obtain factual information on the total number of representations received in relation to, and the local authority’s intended timescales for decisions on, both planning applications. Two communications were held on 20 January between officials from the Department and the local authority. One, by telephone between the Chief Executive of the local authority and the Permanent Secretary, was to inform the department of the officer recommendations that would be in the reports to be published at 9.00am the following day. The other was an e-mail from Lancashire County Council to advise when the reports would be published and where they would be made available on their website.

In developing part of the £5 million Government shale support package that was announced in the Autumn Statement 2014, there were also telephone conversations between officials, one in December 2014 and one in January 2015, to try and identify areas where local authority resources come under most pressure when processing these type of applications.

On 3 November 2014, Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) officials wrote to Lancashire County Council to provide comments on the relevant aspects of DECC’s regulatory role that might be helpful in considering the applications. On 17 November 2014, 19 January 2015 and 26 January 2015, DECC officials wrote two letters and an email in response to specific requests from Lancashire County Council officials, seeking views from DECC on certain comments received in the public consultation on the planning applications. DECC’s responses addressed only matters which fall under DECC’s regulatory responsibilities.

The Minister of State, Matt Hancock, met with the deputy leader of Lancashire County Council on 12 November 2014, as part of a regional visit. This meeting did not discuss the merits of the planning applications. A meeting with officials to follow up was arranged (by email and telephone) for 14 January but after further consideration was postponed until after the planning decisions.

A DECC official was invited to attend the meetings of the development control committee considering the planning applications on 28 and 29 January, to advise if necessary on DECC’s regulatory responsibilities. After due consideration of this request, DECC officials confirmed on 27 January that they would not attend.

The Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council wrote to DECC in January asking for comments on the Health Impact Assessment, and DECC officials replied on 20 January to say they could not respond ahead of the Council’s decisions.

3rd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a local authority employee can decline to carry out duties in relation to (1) the operation of polling stations on 6 May, (2) the counting of votes in relation to elections on that day, and (3) other activities involving direct contact with members of the public.

Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.

The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.

Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.

It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.

Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.

3rd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what instructions will be given (1) to returning officers for, and (2) to persons acting on their behalf at, the elections on 6 May on how to proceed if two or more applications to appoint a proxy are made in respect of the same elector and they purport to appoint different persons as the proxy for that elector; and whether any such instructions include guidance on what to do should multiple such applications be handed in at the same time at the last possible time for such applications.

Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.

The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.

Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.

It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.

Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.

3rd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they plan to put in place to ensure that applications for a proxy vote for the elections on 6 May (1) are made by the person to whom the vote belongs, (2) are accompanied by clear and full information on why a proxy vote is being requested, (3) are not systematically collected by political parties or candidates at those elections or persons acting on their behalf, (4) include contact information for the applicant, and (5) ensure that late applications can be efficiently and properly processed.

Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.

The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.

Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.

It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.

Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.

3rd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make provision for (1) the suspension, or (2) the cancellation, of polls on 6 May in the event of a local emergency, including a local surge in COVID-19 cases resulting from an outbreak of a new variant which spreads rapidly, in a particular (a) polling district, (b) electoral division, (c) local authority, and (d) mayoral or police commissioner election; and who will have the authority to make such decisions under any such plans.

Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.

The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.

Proxy voting rules will be changed, enabling those who need to self-isolate to request an emergency proxy vote at short notice - right up to 5pm on polling day itself. This will mean that voters who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are self isolating, can still have their say in these elections without having to leave their residence.

It is an offence to provide false information on any voter registration form or any form requesting an absent vote. Information will have to be taken at face value as not all electors will be able to produce evidence. For example, some electors will be self-isolating due to contact with others. Others may show symptoms too late to be tested or otherwise have symptoms and are unable to produce a positive test.

Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.

3rd Feb 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the duties of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

The Lord Greaves

House of Lords

London
SW1A 0PW

10 February 2021

Dear Lord Greaves

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the duties will be of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021 (HL12955).

Census 2021 will be a digital-first census and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be encouraging people to respond online if they can on their mobile phones, laptops, PCs or tablets, and providing a comprehensive range of support (including paper questionnaires) for those who are not able to complete the census online. The ONS expects 70 percent of households to respond without needing a reminder letter or visit from field staff. However, where it is necessary for the field staff to be involved and carry out their assigned duties, please be assured that safety is our number one concern.

For Census 2021, due to take place on the 21 March 2021, the ONS will have up to 40,000 census field staff working across England and Wales. The majority of the field force, who are ONS staff, are due to start the main follow-up work following Census day and no field staff will be knocking on doors until after that day.

An initial tranche of field staff is due to start earlier than this, undertaking tasks that do not require them to interact with members of the public nor knock on doors of households. They will be out and about from 8 March performing duties such as checking addresses of undelivered mail, understanding the local area and understanding the access to buildings etc.

Following Census day, field staff will start following up only those households who have not yet responded to the initial invitation and reminder letters. The primary role of these field officers is to give help and encouragement to those who have not yet filled in their census questionnaire online or on paper, and to direct them to the support services they need. Field staff will never enter people’s houses; they will be supplied with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), will always be socially distanced and will work in line with all government guidance.

All field staff will have been instructed in how to follow a precise door knocking routine to maximise safety for themselves and the public. Field officers will record the status of their visits by recording outcomes on the electronic Field Work Management Tool which has been developed for this purpose. A few examples of the many possible outcomes would be: they may record if the property is derelict, there was no answer (so they left a card), there was a hard refusal to complete. Officers can also collect paper questionnaires and post them for a household if the householder has completed one but is unable to post the return (for example, if the householder is housebound and has no family/friends to post the return for them).

There are also field officers that are responsible for encouraging census returns from communal establishments (CEs), who will start this work on 23rd February. The CEs will be sent out an information pack by post and then the CE officers will contact the managers of each of them. They will discuss with the managers of each establishment the best way to enumerate and they will request an invitation to visit in a COVID secure way, that will follow the protocols established by that establishment, to hand deliver the Census packs to a member of the CE staff, as laid out in regulations. They will always follow local and central government guidelines. There is not a need for CE officers to meet with the residents of the establishment, as the managers of the CEs will organise for the census forms to be filled in by each of the residents.

For more detailed information on ONS field staff roles, the ONS has published a Local Authority Partnership Guide[1] which includes a timeline of key activities during the Census 2021 operation (section 3), factsheets on field staff roles and responsibilities (section 7.2), recruitment allocation and dates for field staff (section 7.3).

The health and safety of census field staff and the public are of the utmost importance to the ONS. Prior to going out into the field, all field staff will be given comprehensive COVID-19 training. This will include detailed guidance on how to use the PPE provided, in addition to the other control measures the ONS has established to ensure everyone’s safety. Full details of the safety measures are available on the Census 2021 jobs website.[2] As set out on that web page, the items of PPE issued to field staff will include, but is not limited to, face coverings, hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1] https://census.gov.uk/assets/Census2021_A4_English_LocalAuthorityGuideVersionTwo_LAGD1-A.pdf

[2] https://www.censusjobs.co.uk/covid-19-update/

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
25th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the costs related to holding the elections on 6 May, including the additional costs of measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, will be refunded to local authorities.

Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.

The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.

Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.

To support the smooth running of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections, there will be an estimated £92 million of government funding that will be provided to Returning Officers and local authorities for the elections. Of this, £31 million is an uplift to address costs associated with making the polls covid-secure.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
20th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of local authorities (1) to support the administration of elections scheduled to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) to enable the provision of staff to administer such elections on 6 May.

Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.

We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing.

The Government is also bringing forward additional measures to extend the ability to appoint a proxy, so that those that are affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll are still able to make their voice heard.

Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review. The House will be kept updated.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
14th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they have undertaken in relation to holding local and other elections in England on 6 May with bodies representing (1) schools, (2) school staff, and (3) parents; and what representations they have received from such bodies.

Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.

We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.

We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
14th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for schools that would be used as polling stations in elections on 6 May for (1) the number of days they would need to close for extra cleaning and other management arrangements (a) before, and (b) following, polling day, and (2) the costs of such cleaning and management arrangements.

Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.

We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.

We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
14th Jan 2021
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of the people who volunteer on a regular basis to staff polling stations and count votes at elections who will not be available to do so on 6 May as a result of (1) having contracted COVID-19, (2) self-isolating, (3) working at home, (4) being unwilling for other perceived safety reasons, and (5) other reasons; and what assessment they have made of the ability of local authorities (a) to recruit other people, and (b) provide them with the necessary training, to support such polling stations.

Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.

We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.

We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
14th Dec 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) the annual canvass of electors, and (2) the accuracy of the electoral register.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) remain subject to the statutory duties placed on them to deliver the annual canvass and electoral registration. They continue to deliver these essential services despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cabinet Office officials have actively engaged with EROs throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify and mitigate any possible effect of the pandemic on the annual canvass. The reforms the Government had already introduced to the annual canvass process for this year allowed EROs to make more use of online and telephone communications than previously, meaning a canvass that was safer for both Electoral Services teams and the general public. In addition, the Representation of the People (Electoral Registers Publication Date) Regulations 2020 has also provided EROs with additional flexibility to conduct this year’s annual canvass by allowing them an additional two months in which to publish their final revised register, if required - thus helping to safeguard the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
14th Dec 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for staffing problems at the local elections in England in May 2021 as a result of (1) reluctance among potential workers to volunteer to carry out duties at polling stations, and (2) the need for extra staff at polling stations to act as (a) ‘greeters’, and (b) cleaners.

The Government appreciates the issues around using schools as polling places and asks that returning officers consider other venues where possible to minimise disruption to education. Where schools are designated as polling places, it should be with due consideration and for sound practical reasons. It can be the case that schools represent the most suitable and accessible locations and, in some instances, provide the only appropriate location for the situation of a polling station. Schools and local authorities should follow public health advice with regard to necessary cleaning and consider how this can be undertaken efficiently to ensure minimal disruption.

The Government has considered issues around staffing at the May 2021 elections with the electoral sector and Public Health England, and the Electoral Commission has included reference to this in recent guidance.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
10th Dec 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of using schools as polling stations for the local elections in May, in particular if those schools are required to close (1) for polling day, and (2) to undertake a deep clean following polling day.

The Government appreciates the issues around using schools as polling places and asks that returning officers consider other venues where possible to minimise disruption to education. Where schools are designated as polling places, it should be with due consideration and for sound practical reasons. It can be the case that schools represent the most suitable and accessible locations and, in some instances, provide the only appropriate location for the situation of a polling station. Schools and local authorities should follow public health advice with regard to necessary cleaning and consider how this can be undertaken efficiently to ensure minimal disruption.

The Government has considered issues around staffing at the May 2021 elections with the electoral sector and Public Health England, and the Electoral Commission has included reference to this in recent guidance.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
12th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to delaying the local elections due in England in May 2021 to a later date.

Many elections have taken place globally since the beginning of the pandemic, including the recent US Presidential and associated elections. The Government keeps international practice under regular review. The UK Government is working with the election sector and public health bodies to identify and resolve challenges involved in delivering the May 2021 elections. This includes supporting Returning Officers to ensure polling stations are safe and covid-secure places to vote. Voters will be able participate in the May 2021 elections safely, and in a way of their choice, whether in-person, by proxy or by post.

It is the Government’s view that polls can be delivered safely and securely if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. The Government is clear that the expectation is for polls to take place next May.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
12th Nov 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation of the United States Presidential elections on 3 November with a view to informing their methods of running multiple elections during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular in relation to the (1) mayoral, (2) London Assembly, (3) Police Commissioner, (4) county, and (5) borough, elections that are due to occur on 6 May 2021.

Many elections have taken place globally since the beginning of the pandemic, including the recent US Presidential and associated elections. The Government keeps international practice under regular review. The UK Government is working with the election sector and public health bodies to identify and resolve challenges involved in delivering the May 2021 elections. This includes supporting Returning Officers to ensure polling stations are safe and covid-secure places to vote. Voters will be able participate in the May 2021 elections safely, and in a way of their choice, whether in-person, by proxy or by post.

It is the Government’s view that polls can be delivered safely and securely if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. The Government is clear that the expectation is for polls to take place next May.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
8th Oct 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are monitoring the conduct of local government by-elections in Scotland in order to assess the feasibility of holding such elections in England.

Parliament legislated to delay the May 2020 elections and subsequent local by-elections in location to May 2021. We are not changing that legislation, meaning no-one should expect elections to take place in England before May 2021. This decision was made to give Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers certainty on the timing and combination of elections at the start of the year.

This was outlined in the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution’s letter to Electoral Returning Officers, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-chloe-smith-mp-to-returning-officers

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
29th Jul 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of the Boundary Commission reviews of the boundaries of UK parliamentary constituencies since 2011.

Figures for expenditure over each financial year are published by the Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland as part of their annual reports. These are available online.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
4th Jun 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the statistics for deaths from COVID-19 in local authority areas are based on the home addresses of the people who have died or the location in which they die.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Dear Lord Greaves,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking whether the statistics for deaths from COVID-19 in local authority areas are based on the home addresses of the people who have died or the location in which they die (HL5296).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. The most recent annual figures published are for deaths registered in 2018[1]. However, we do publish provisional weekly deaths registrations, which are currently published for deaths registered up to 29 May 2020[2]. We publish information at the local authority and health board regional levels as a dataset[3] alongside the weekly deaths bulletin.

ONS mortality statistics are based on information recorded when deaths are certified and registered. Details of the usual residence of the deceased are supplied by the informant to the registrar. In our publications, the local authority breakdowns are based on the place of usual residence of the individual. Therefore, if the death occurred in a different geographical location to the deceased’s usual residence, their death would be included within the number reported for the local authority relating to their usual address. The place of death (hospital, care home, home, etc.) is reported as recorded on the death certificate. More information is available in our Mortality Statistics User Guide[4].

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsregisteredinenglandandwalesseriesdrreferencetables

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

[3]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/datasets/deathregistrationsandoccurrencesbylocalauthorityandhealthboard

[4]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/methodologies/userguidetomortalitystatisticsjuly2017#area-coverage

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
20th May 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to ensure that future appointments of members to the House of Lords help to improve representation (1) of the four nations of the UK, and (2) of each of the regions of England, in the membership of the House.

The House of Lords has a key role in scrutinising the executive and as a revising chamber. It is important that the way it is constituted reflects that role and the primacy of the House of Commons as the elected chamber. The Government has an aspiration that all parts of the United Kingdom should feel connected to politics and indeed to politicians.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
19th May 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, where the COVID-19 restrictions on the movement and activities of people differ in any of the countries of Great Britain, the rules applying to individuals living in the border regions will be those that apply to the country in which they (1) reside, (2) work, or (3) are present at a given moment.

Where a matter is devolved, UK Government guidance available on GOV.UK is clear that measures apply in England-only and should be considered alongside local public health requirements, guidance and legislation.

The UK Government continues to work with the devolved administrations to take a coordinated approach to decisions and guidance related to the current measures.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
12th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what the consideration they have given to postponing local elections on 7 May, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so, what is their assessment of the last day on which a decision must be announced in order for any such postponement to take place.

Further to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS169 which I laid on 19 March 2020, the Government has confirmed that the scheduled local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place on 7 May this year will be postponed until the next ordinary day of election on 6 May 2021.

Other polls that had already been set for dates from 16 March 2020 and which arise over coming weeks and months will also be addressed in legislation being brought forward as part of the Coronavirus Bill.

The decision was taken following advice from the Government’s medical experts in relation to the response to the Covid-19 virus and the advice of those delivering elections.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
12th Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether local elections on 7 May could be postponed after the publication of the notices of election; and if so, what procedures would be required in order to do so.

Further to the Written Ministerial Statement HLWS169 which I laid on 19 March 2020, the Government has confirmed that the scheduled local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were due to take place on 7 May this year will be postponed until the next ordinary day of election on 6 May 2021.

Other polls that had already been set for dates from 16 March 2020 and which arise over coming weeks and months will also be addressed in legislation being brought forward as part of the Coronavirus Bill.

The decision was taken following advice from the Government’s medical experts in relation to the response to the Covid-19 virus and the advice of those delivering elections.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
9th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the all-party consensus, reached in 1999 when the House of Lords Act was passed, that no single political party would in future have a majority of the politically declared membership of the House of Lords.

The House of Lords has a key role in scrutinising the executive and being a revising chamber. It is important that the way it is constituted reflects that role and the primacy of the House of Commons. The Conservative manifesto committed to looking at the role of the House of Lords and reviewing the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts.

The House of Lords Appointments Commission recommends individuals for appointment as non-party-political life peers. In line with established convention, the number of nominations to be offered to individual political parties is a matter for the Prime Minister. All appointments are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to ensure the highest standards of propriety.

Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
9th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the email account ideasfornumber10@gmail.com has been approved as an official means of recruiting staff to work as special advisers or civil servants; and what are the approved person specifications for the “super-talented weirdos” and “misfits with odd skills” who are invited to apply.

The blog invites people to get in touch to discuss opportunities. The blog post does not set out proposed recruitment processes.

Recruitment to the Civil Service is through fair and open competition following section 10 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.

Special Adviser appointments are made by Ministers in accordance with section 15 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act.

Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
7th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, they intend to lay orders for new parliamentary constituency boundaries before Parliament; and if not, what other proposals they intend to make on constituency boundaries.

The final reports of the four Boundary Commissions in the 2018 Boundary Review were submitted to the Government and laid before Parliament in September 2018.


The Government will continue to monitor closely the current legal proceedings in relation to the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland’s final report.


As we set out in our manifesto, the Government will ensure we have updated and equal parliamentary boundaries, making sure every vote counts the same.

Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
19th Dec 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to include election funding within the scope of the proposed Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission.

As set out in the Queen’s Speech, the Commission will examine the broader aspects of the constitution in depth and develop proposals to restore trust in our institutions and in how our democracy operates. We are carefully considering the composition and focus of the Commission.


I am unable to offer further detail at the moment, as the precise scope of the Commission’s remit and programme has not yet been decided. Further announcements will be made in due course and I would be happy to provide further information at that time.

Earl Howe
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
23rd May 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many European Union citizens whose names appear on the register of electors with a right to vote in the European Parliament elections were turned away from polling stations on 23 May.

Data on people who are turned away from polling stations is not collected centrally.

25th Apr 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of each of the electoral integrity and voter ID pilots in the local elections on 2 May in England this year; what is the estimated overall cost of running those pilots; and whether they will reimburse local authorities for any extra costs that they incur.

Voter ID is part of a body of work this Government is delivering to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are secure and fit for the 21st century.

As was the case for the 2018 pilots, the 2019 pilot costs will be confirmed when they are known which will be after the pilot authorities have completed their work. That will be as soon as possible after the elections on 2 May. Funding for the additional cost of piloting voter ID will be provided to each local authority by the Cabinet Office.

15th Jan 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the change of name of the Department of Health to the Department of Health and Social Care, whether there have been any changes to the responsibilities of (1) that Department, and (2) any other department.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) held responsibility for social care policy before the name change and will continue to do so. DHSC has taken on additional responsibility for delivering the forthcoming Social Care green paper. The team who have been leading the work on the green paper have moved from the Cabinet Office to DHSC. Responsibility for Local Authority funded social care will remain with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. There has been no change in responsibilities to any other department.

28th Jun 2017
Her Majesty's Government whether the timetable for the changes to parliamentary constituency boundaries is proceeding as previously planned, and if so, what the next stage will be; and when it will take place.

The Government's manifesto re-affirms the commitment to deliver equal and updated boundaries and reduce the size of the House of Commons.

The conduct of the current boundary review, which is proceeding in accordance with the laws already passed by Parliament, is a matter for the independent and impartial Boundary Commissions. Further information can be found on the websites for each of the four Boundary Commissions.

3rd Feb 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Young of Cookham on 9 January (HLWS400) concerning the Government response to <i>Securing the ballot</i>, what is their definition of "postal vote harvesting"

The handling of completed postal ballot packs by campaigners is unacceptable. The Electoral Commission already strongly advises against the practice, and as part of the wider reform package outlined in our response to Sir Eric’s review, the Government is considering how a ban on this activity could be implemented.

23rd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate (1) of the proportion of persons living in the United Kingdom who do not possess a photo identity document of any kind, or evidence of their address such as a utility bill; and (2) of the number of people who are in consequence unable to open an ordinary bank account.

The Government does not hold this information.

25th May 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is permissible for the ballot papers sent to postal voters to be a different colour to the ballot papers issued in a corresponding polling station.

Ballot papers for any given poll have a consistent appearance in order to reduce the risk of completed votes being identifiable as having been submitted by a particular voter or voters when they are verified and counted. That could happen if, for example, coloured ballot papers were used for postal voting (but not voting in person) and there was low use of them. Different coloured ballot papers are already used to help voters distinguish between different polls where polls are combined, and further use of different colours could lead to confusion.

25th May 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of the present design of ballot papers for persons with difficulties of sight.

The design of ballot papers used in elections and referendums in the UK was revised by the last Government to make them clearer and easier to understand for voters. The changes were subject to a programme of user-testing involving representative samples of the voting public. RNIB, who were consulted on the changes, considered that they did not raise significant issues for blind and partially sighted people


Returning Officers are required to display an enlarged version of the ballot paper in each polling station and provide upon request a large hand-held sample copy to assist visually impaired electors to vote. They must also ensure each polling station is equipped with a tactile voting device to assist blind / partially sighted electors. This device has raised numbers and numbers in Braille and fits over the ballot paper. When the Presiding Officer or a companion reads out the list of candidates or parties to the voter, it enables them to cast their vote independently and in secret.