Police and Crime Commissioners

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Thursday 22nd March 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report issued by the Electoral Commission on 15 March on the election of police and crime commissioners.

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, the Government recently completed a consultation with the Electoral Commission and others, which included consideration of how the public can receive information about police and crime commissioner candidates. We are looking at options, and in reaching a decision an important consideration will be ensuring that members of the public can gain access to information by a range of means.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

My Lords, the elections are in November. Will the noble Baroness say why so far the Home Secretary has turned down requests for the funding of election materials for distribution by candidates, which is directly contrary to the practice both for MPs and for elected mayors? Will the noble Baroness confirm that the Government’s intention is to see a low turnout in the elections?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, election addresses are an important and routine part of the election process. The Home Office proposes a cost-effective way of distributing election addresses for PCC candidates. As the noble Lord will know, election addresses are not the only form of communication that takes place during a campaign. The Electoral Commission is responsible for raising awareness of the election. The Government will make sure that the policy of the creation of PCCs is widely known—as it is already. The candidates must take responsibility for communicating their messages through their campaigns.