Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2021 to Question 136483 on Remote Divisions, what information the Commission holds on how many hon. Members were (a) unable to use the electronic method of voting and (b) used the back-up system provided for electronic voting during the two weeks that electronic voting was used in the House of Commons in 2020; what discussions the Commission has had with the Leader of the House on electronic voting in the House of Commons during the period of the national covid-19 lockdown that has been in place since January 2021 to help prevent the transmission of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Pete Wishart
Electronic voting was used for 10 divisions between 12 May and 20 May inclusive. Members voted using MemberHub. The Public Bill Office operated a back-up system: if a Member could not register their vote using MemberHub, they contacted the Public Bill Office during the division and their vote was recorded. The table below shows how many Members registered their vote using the back-up method, and the total number of votes cast in each division.
Date | Division number | Total votes cast | Votes cast using back-up system |
12 May 2020 | 41 | 611 | 2 |
13 May 2020 | 42 | 605 | 4 |
| 43 | 574 | 6 |
| 44 | 419 | 6 |
| 45 | 571 | 3 |
18 May 2020 | 46 | 603 | 1 |
20 May 2020 | 47 | 608 | 3 |
| 48 | 614 | 2 |
| 49 | 609 | 2 |
| 50 | 585 | 2 |
The Commission received an update on the House Service’s response to the pandemic at its meeting on 11 January, and agreed a number of measures to further improve the safety of people on the Parliamentary estate. Electronic voting was raised at the meeting, and there is a range of views among Commissioners on this issue. However, the means by which Divisions are conducted are ultimately a matter for the House to determine.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2021 to Question 133774 on Divisions: Electronic Voting, how many hon. Members were (a) unable to use the electronic method of voting and (b) used the back-up system provided for electronic voting during the two weeks that electronic voting was used in the House of Commons in 2020; what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the House of Lords on the operation of electronic voting in that chamber; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer the hon. member to my previous answer (133774), it is the Government’s view that the current arrangements for proxy voting are a better alternative to a system of remote voting. Details regarding the operation and use of the electronic voting system is not a matter for the Government but one for the House.
I have regular meetings with the Leader of the House of Lords. However, what is considered suitable for the House of Lords is not always suitable for the House of Commons and as I have said before, it is essential to strike the balance between facilitating virtual participation and allowing scrutiny and legislation to continue.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has requested data from party whips on the number of backbench votes being cast by individual party whips during proxy voting in the House of Commons; whether he has made an assessment of the effect on (a) scrutiny of the Government by backbench hon. Members and (b) the power of whips over voting decisions of backbench hon. Members of (i) continuing with the proxy voting system and (ii) allowing hon. Members to vote remotely in divisions during the January 20221 covid-19 lockdown restrictions; if he will make it his policy to reinstate electronic voting in divisions for the duration of the national lockdown period; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
It is the Government’s view that the current arrangements for proxy voting are working well and are a better alternative to remote voting. Details of all proxy votes are readily available through the House service to all members and the public. Proxy voting has significantly reduced the overall number of people who are required to vote in person in the division lobbies and it is also flexible as members can choose their own proxy, irrespective of party. This strikes the right balance between ensuring a robust form of physical voting, which is not dependent on technology and individual members’ wifi connections, while ensuring that very few members have to vote in person, thus ensuring safety.
It is vital that members' votes are cast in accordance with their individual will and, as set out in the proxy voting scheme agreed by the House, members who are eligible to vote by proxy must agree with the member nominated as their proxy when the proxy vote will be cast and how it will be exercised. The member designated as a proxy is expected to act in strict accordance with the instruction given by the absent member, ensuring the voting decisions of backbench members are upheld.
The Government has taken a number of actions to ensure that MPs can work from home more readily where possible. Measures are in place in both Houses, including virtual participation in all Chamber proceedings and as we have said throughout the pandemic, the Government continues to keep the approach in Parliament under review.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
The Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration has been given to implementing arrangements for Members of the House of Lords to vote in person in divisions in line with the method used by the House of Commons on 2 June.
Answered by Lord McFall of Alcluith
In late March arrangements were made for members to vote in the Royal Gallery, allowing for social distancing, should the need for a division arise. Use of these temporary arrangements was not ultimately required. The Procedure Committee and the House agreed to concentrate on the development of electronic voting facilities, given the high number of members who are currently unable to attend Westminster and are required to participate remotely in the business of the House. Operation of the electronic voting system commenced on 15 June and is to be used by all members whether remote or on the Estate. Engagement with the remote voting system has been extremely good. These arrangements will be kept under review by the Procedure Committee, which continues to meet regularly.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the contract for running the Commons Remote Voting system was awarded to Civica Election Services; and whether the contract was subject to open competition.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The Commons Remote Voting system is being developed and implemented entirely by existing Parliamentary Digital Service resource. No contract has been awarded for this work. A contract was awarded on 22 April to Civica Election Services to run an online ballot for the Chairs of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and the Committee on Standards. An open competition was not required as the expected final value is below the £10,000 threshold at which the Parliamentary Procurement Rules require multiple quotes to be sought.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission is holding discussions with other Parliaments moving to establish secure electronic voting systems by use of (a) email and (b) other methods during the covid-19 outbreak; and if the Commission will ensure that technical work to allow electronic voting in the UK Parliament is undertaken to enable proposals on the introduction of a secure electronic voting system to be put before the House; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The House of Commons Commission has held no discussions with other Parliaments about electronic voting by use of email or other methods during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Any decision to implement electronic voting would need to be agreed by the House first. The Commission’s responsibility in this matter would be limited to the financial and staffing implications of the decision, which would include the technical work to allow electronic voting to take place.
The House has not made a decision to introduce electronic voting. In July 2019, the Procedure Committee began an inquiry into voting procedures in the House of Commons that included a consideration of “the desirability and/or feasibility of alternatives to current arrangements”. That inquiry was interrupted by the general election and the Committee has not made any decision on whether to reopen it.
Asked by: Richard Arkless (Scottish National Party - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what consideration has been given to moving to digital voting in the House.
Answered by Tom Brake
The Commission has given no formal consideration to a move to digital voting in the House. Its responsibility in this matter is limited to any financial or staffing implications of any change to the present system, were a change to be agreed by the House.
In January 2015 the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy recommended that the House should move to record votes using Members’ security passes but retain the tradition of walking through division lobbies. The House has not yet been invited to respond to this recommendation. House officials have undertaken some preparatory studies in the event of the House deciding to endorse this proposal. Members wishing to pursue the issue can seek a debate via the Backbench Business Committee or raise it with the Procedure Committee. It would also be open to Ministers to bring forward proposals.
Accurate recording of divisions and timely publication of division lists are critical business activities of the House of Commons. The House Service has therefore been investigating means of electronic recording of divisions since October 2014, with a view to improving the timely publication of division lists, making division data more accessible to the public and easier to analyse, and improving accuracy. A trial was held in the House in March 2015 in which seven divisions were recorded in part by division clerks on tablet devices. Full implementation of tablet recording of divisions is expected to take place early in 2016. In the meantime, any divisions held under the new English votes for English laws procedure will be recorded on tablet devices, because the tablets can generate the results required under the ‘double-majority’ system. Electronic recording of votes by division clerks will not in itself alter the requirement for Members to vote by walking through the lobbies.