Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of British citizens living overseas who may be entitled to qualify for inclusion on UK electoral registers if the current 15 year time limit is abolished; how they intend to ensure that it will be possible to check previous residency or inclusion against previous electoral registers given that those registers may no longer exist; and what estimate they have made of the cost to local authorities of conducting such a process.

The Government estimates that a further 3 million British citizens resident overseas would be enfranchised by the 'votes for life' proposals set out in the policy statement published on 7 October.

The policy statement also sets out how applicants will be required to establish a connection to a UK address. For those whose previous registration cannot be verified, or who were not previously registered, documentary evidence or an attestation can be used. The additional costs will be highly dependent upon the number of eligible electors who apply to vote and to renew their registrations.