Oral Answers to Questions

Nick Smith Excerpts

Tuesday 7th January 2014 Commons Chamber

The Deputy Prime Minister was asked—

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

1. What measures are in place to prevent a fall in the number of people registered to vote after the introduction of individual voter registration.

[Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab)]

4. What measures are in place to prevent a fall in the number of people registered to vote after the introduction of individual voter registration.

[The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Greg Clark)]

A happy new year to you, Mr Speaker, and to colleagues.

There are three ways in which the Government are ensuring that the electoral register under individual registration is complete and accurate: first, using data matching so that the majority of voters are automatically registered; secondly, phasing in the transition over two years so that people who are not individually registered can nevertheless vote in the 2015 general election; and, thirdly, providing additional resources above what is usually spent at a national and local level to fund activities to boost the completeness and accuracy of the register.

[Nick Smith]

I thank the Minister for that answer. What are the Government doing to ensure that when members of the public come into contact with Government agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or the UK Passport Service, that is used to promote electoral registration?

[Greg Clark]

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. One of the features of the transition that we are putting in place is to use Government databases automatically to register those whose details are held. In the test of this, well over three quarters were automatically registered; in fact, in his constituency the figure was 84%. We are continuing to make use of those sources.