Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2017 to Question 112666, on Local Government: Elections, whether Bolton Council expressed an interest to his Department about participating in the Voter ID pilots for the May 2018 local elections; and if he will place details of conversations and copies of correspondence his Department had with Bolton Council regarding that pilot in the library.

We are currently considering a request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, for related information.

On the one hand, the Government needs to take account of the public interest of making its decisions as transparently as possible. But on the other hand, we must also ensure policy decisions are informed by a free and frank exchange of views about all available options, and a clear understanding of their implications.

I will ask officials to write to the Hon member when a decision has been made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.