Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will produce a list of significant cases of electoral fraud resulting in custodial sentences since 1998; and what political party was involved in each case.

The Electoral Commission informs me that the requested data for the period 1998-2012 is contained in Appendix 3 of its evidence and issues paper on electoral fraud published in May 2013. This may be found on the Commission's website here:

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/electoral-fraud/electoral-fraud-vulnerabilities-review#

In addition, since the publication of its paper in May 2013 a case of personation, misconduct in public office and intention to pervert the course of justice at the Derby Council elections in 2012 resulted in one defendant being jailed for 14 months and three other defendants each being given suspended jail sentences of 8 months. The Commission understands that none of those convicted in this case were shown to be linked to a political party.