Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many additional people will form part of the electorate following the extension of the franchise to citizens who have been living overseas for more than 15 years.

The Government intends to legislate to extend the franchise for UK Parliamentary General Elections to all British citizens living overseas who have been previously registered or previously resident in the UK.

These measures will be included in the Elections Bill, and we will shortly be publishing further information on the impact on the overseas franchise as part of this process.