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

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to paragraph 36 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Memorandum on the Representation of the People Bill, published on 12 February, what assessment they have made of whether the ECHR would allow for voting by convicted and jailed prisoners in some circumstances.

Prisoners convicted of a crime and serving a sentence in custody are not allowed to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, or any other elections for which responsibility is reserved.

Those imprisoned for default in paying fines or contempt of court, individuals held on remand who are not convicted, and those released on temporary licence or home detention curfew are not legally barred from voting, but they must meet the other eligibility criteria and be registered to vote.

The government has no plans to change this policy to allow prisoners to vote.