Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Jackson of Peterborough Excerpts
Tuesday 1st March 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gary Streeter Portrait Mr Streeter
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The Electoral Commission is not responsible for the comments of any politician in this country, I am delighted to say. The report on electoral fraud showed that there were 232 cases of alleged electoral malpractice in 2010, 137 of which required no further action. Sixty-eight cases remain under investigation; in 23 cases police advice was given; two cases resulted in a caution; and court proceedings were brought in two cases, resulting in one conviction.

Lord Jackson of Peterborough Portrait Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con)
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The House will know that, regrettably, six individuals have been found guilty of election malpractice arising from personation and postal vote fraud in Peterborough in the past four years. What specific strategies are the Electoral Commission pursuing to concentrate on postal vote fraud?

Gary Streeter Portrait Mr Streeter
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The Electoral Commission has made recommendations to the Government about tightening up voter identification, and the Government are considering that report. Naturally, the Electoral Commission takes all allegations of fraud seriously, but it is a matter for the police to investigate each and every incident.