Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to consult the public on the merits of alternative methods to the first past the post system for voting in general elections.

The Government committed in its manifesto to retain the First Past the Post system for Parliamentary elections.

The Government’s view is that the First Past the Post system is well-established here. In each constituency, candidates are elected to represent the views of their constituents and in each case a candidate for whom more people voted than for any of the alternatives is elected. The current system also provides a clear and well-understood link between constituents and their representative in Parliament.

The Government does not, therefore, have plans to change the voting system at the present time.