Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts

Tuesday 20th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

We are not removing the civic duty, as I think the hon. Gentleman knows. It is not an offence at present not to register to vote. We are maintaining the offence that is on the statute book whereby there is an obligation for people to provide information about voters in their household. That is being kept intact. As to the hon. Gentleman’s first point about the link between the register and crime, the Credit Services Association recently supported the move towards individual electoral registration, saying:

“We believe that the proposed approach will lead to a reduction in financial crime, in particular fraud. In our view any proposal that will result in a reduction of financial crime is to be welcomed.”

[Mr Speaker]

Mark Lancaster. Not here.

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

5. What steps he is taking to increase participation in elections by service and overseas voters.

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[Mr Harper]

I am yet to present a Bill that has had the support of both the Government parties and the Opposition, and I look forward to the opportunity to do so. However, my hon. Friend has made an important point. Lobbying—in other words, the setting out of concerns by businesses, charities, and our constituents—is a perfectly sensible activity. Indeed, legislation is worse when we do not listen to the outside world, and we do not want to damage that position. I hope that when we present our consultation paper, my hon. Friend will find it acceptable. We look forward to what she, and other Members in all parts of the House, have to say about it.

[Mr Speaker]

Mr Gary Streeter is not here. I call Katy Clark.

[Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab)]

8. What assessment he has made of the potential effects of the introduction of individual electoral registration on the 2015 boundary review.

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[Mr Harper]

That study was, of course, paid for by the Government, because we wanted to find out what state the electoral register was in before introducing individual electoral registration. It suggests that those who complacently thought that the register was already in good shape may need to think about that a little more, and also that our proposals, which include data matching and improving registration, are urgently required and will make the register better.

[Mr Speaker]

Bob Blackman is not here. I call Dr John Pugh.

[John Pugh (Southport) (LD)]

10. What recent progress he has made on reforming the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

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[The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)]

As Deputy Prime Minister, I support the Prime Minister on a full range of—[Laughter.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We all want to hear the answer.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

As I was saying, I support the Prime Minister on a full range of Government policies and initiatives, and within Government I take special responsibility for this Government’s programme of political and constitutional reform.

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[The Deputy Prime Minister]

The right hon. Gentleman refers to the reasons why this coalition Government were created—it was to clear up the mess that his party left behind. It is not easy, what we are doing, but it is right. At the beginning of this year, his party had nothing to say about the economy—[Interruption.]

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The Deputy Prime Minister must, and will, be heard.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

At the beginning of this year, the right hon. Gentleman’s party had nothing to say about the economy. At least they are consistent: they are completing this year with still nothing to say about how to save our economy.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Toby Perkins. [Interruption.]

[Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)]

I am here.

[Mr Speaker]

I do not usually fail to spot the hon. Gentleman, but there we go.

[Toby Perkins]

T2. Members on both sides of the House are very concerned about the implications for local communities and community cohesion of the initial proposals from the Boundary Commission. Although I recognise the importance of getting the numbers between constituencies relatively similar, community cohesion is also really important. Will the Deputy Prime Minister reserve the right not to support the Boundary Commission proposals if they are considered against community—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We must move on.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the whole system has been devised so that it is not in the gift of politicians, still less the Government, to draw lines on the map to decide where these new boundaries are set; that is for the independent boundary commissions. There is a process of consultation and appeal, which is now ongoing. But I am glad he recognises that the principle is a perfectly valid one: that people’s votes should be worth the same weight and esteem, wherever they live in this country.

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[The Deputy Prime Minister]

As he knows, we have legislated to make it quite clear—the Foreign Secretary has pioneered and led on this legislation—that if there were to be a major transfer of power from this House to Brussels and from the UK to the EU, there should absolutely be a referendum. We are the first Government to have guaranteed to the British people that if we give up more power to the EU, they will have their say. I do not think we could be more crystal clear than that.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Mark Tami. He is not here.

[Mr Jack Straw (Blackburn) (Lab)]

The Deputy Prime Minister said earlier that there was no criminal sanction on individuals if they failed to register to vote. The only reason that is so is that the obligation rests on the householder, on whom there is a criminal sanction. Does the Deputy Prime Minister accept that as we move towards individual registration, Ministers must reconsider the proposal to allow opting out without any criminal sanction whatsoever?