Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to (a) local councils and (b) government of implementing the requirement for mandatory voter ID during May 2023 local elections.

Estimated Implementation costs are available in the Impact Assessment that was published alongside the draft secondary legislation implementing the voter identification requirements. This estimate covers the wider costs that will be incurred by central government, not just specifically local authorities.

In line with longstanding government policy, New Burdens will be provided to local authorities to clear additional costs as a result of these changes.