Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Maynard Excerpts

Tuesday 14th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

That is a characteristically sour question. I have never sought to hold myself up as some paragon of social mobility. What I care about, and what I suspect everybody in this House cares about, wherever they come from, is that we live in a country where people can live out their dreams regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

[Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con)]

3. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the roll-out of online individual electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

[Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the roll-out of online individual electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

Voter registration is now easier and more convenient than ever before with the launch of online registration. Applying to register now takes as little as two to three minutes. It has been a big success so far. More than 90% of users who have provided feedback on the “Register to Vote” website have said they are satisfied or very satisfied with the service. To date, more than 2.5 million applications have been made under individual electoral registration, with the majority made online.

[Paul Maynard]

I welcome the growth in online registration, but is the Minister satisfied that the procedures for those with a learning disability are sufficiently robust to allow them to participate fully in the online process? Does he have any record of the numbers currently utilising that assistance?

[Mr Gyimah]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. The Government are taking action to target all those missing from the electoral register, such as students, those in residential care homes or those with learning disabilities. We have learnt lessons from places such as Northern Ireland. We are currently funding not just electoral returning officers but a number of organisations, including Mencap, to ensure that people end up on the register.