Elections: Alternative Vote System

Lord Willis of Knaresborough Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Willis of Knaresborough]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they estimate will be the cost of a general election held under the alternative vote system.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, the features and associated costs of holding a general election using the alternative vote system would broadly be the same as under the existing system. A notable exception to this is the count, which, depending on the extent of preferences expressed by voters, could take longer and lead to some additional costs.

[Lord Willis of Knaresborough]

I am grateful to my noble friend for that interesting Answer. There is undoubtedly a polarised debate about the future of our voting system. However, does my noble friend agree that it behoves politicians in both Houses of Parliament, particularly Ministers, when making statements to base them on facts and not simply make them up to further an argument? Will he state quite clearly today that there is no requirement in the legislation and no estimate in the Government's plans for any additional costs for electronic voting or electronic counting? Can he bury that argument?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, reading very carefully, I say that we have no current plans to introduce electronic counting for the Westminster parliamentary elections. The Government have made no estimate of the costs of electronic counting for them.