Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wayne David and Gary Streeter

Thursday 17th December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

Where Kettering leads, other parts of the country will surely follow. My hon. Friend is right to say that this matter is now embraced in the national code produced by the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission spoke to members of UKIP recently and, as I understand it, they have still made no formal complaint. Perhaps a lesson for all of us is that if we make allegations, we should back them up and refer matters to the police.

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the Electoral Commission is of the view that electoral fraud cases are few and far between?

[Mr Streeter]

That is certainly the case, and we are fortunate in this country that there are very few cases of electoral fraud. Of course there are allegations, and the police now have special officers to investigate them, but mercifully at the moment, electoral fraud does not trouble us greatly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wayne David and Gary Streeter

Thursday 10th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

As usual, my hon. Friend is right: IER has been a long time coming, but it has been carefully and successfully introduced in the past 12 months. We must pay tribute to all the electoral registration officers all over the country for their hard work. As a champion of youth engagement in democracy in his constituency, he makes an important point about online registration. There is no question but that a lot of young people have exercised their ability to register online, so making sure that our register is as full as possible.

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

What is the Electoral Commission’s view of the Government’s attempt to bring forward the date of the full implementation of IER to December 2015?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wayne David and Gary Streeter

Thursday 16th May 2013 Commons Chamber

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

1. What progress the Electoral Commission is making on preparations for the full confirmation test in the transition to individual electoral registration.

[Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon)]

The Government, not the Electoral Commission, are responsible for the set-up and delivery of the full confirmation test, which is likely to start in July. The commission will be evaluating and reporting on the process and providing electoral registration officers with guidance and tools to support them in the test. The commission’s evaluation will focus on how the technical system for transferring and handling the data has performed and it will then make an overall assessment of whether everything is in place for the successful delivery of individual electoral registration in October.

[Wayne David]

Does the Electoral Commission agree that there is real concern out there about the IT system that is being used in the process of confirmation, and that it is very important to allow sufficient time for the transition to IER to ensure that things are done properly?

[Mr Streeter]

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The IT system is extremely important. That is why a full and proper assessment will be made in good time before IER is introduced in 2014. I remind him and the House that, in any event, at the 2015 election all those on the register in 2014 will be automatically transferred, so there is some safeguard.