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1689189

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Electoral Commission
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the independence of the Commission.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
	uin	14117
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2024 answer text <p>The Committee has had recent discussions with the Commission on this issue. The Commission regularly discusses its independence and accountability arrangements, which underpin public confidence in its work and decisions, during its regular meetings with the Committee.</p><p>The Commission and the Committee have both noted concerns about the introduction of a Strategy and Policy Statement, including its inconsistency with the role that an independent electoral commission plays in a democratic system.</p><p>However, now that a statement has been passed by the UK parliament, the Commission will meet its legal duty to have regard to it. It will continue to act independently and impartially to help maintain public confidence in elections and political finance regulation.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 21/02/2024 09:53:45 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1645361

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Candidates: Vetting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what checks are undertaken to ascertain whether candidates for election to (a) the House of Commons and (b) local authorities are on the sex offenders register.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	190010
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2023 answer text <p>A person is disqualified from being elected to a local authority in England and Wales if they are on the sex offenders register at the time of their nomination and on polling day.</p><p>The Scottish Government is consulting on introducing a similar disqualification for Scottish local government elections. There is not currently a similar disqualification in place in Northern Ireland, or for UK parliamentary candidates.</p><p>It is the candidate's responsibility, not the Returning Officer's, to ensure that the information they submit on their nomination papers is correct. If a candidate decides to stand despite not meeting the eligibility criteria, this would be a matter for the police.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 20/06/2023 11:52:38 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1624090

	registered interest
	date	26/04/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Voter Authority Certificates
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the level of sign up for the Voter Authority Certificate.
	tabling member constituency	Midlothian
	tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
	uin	182898
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>The Committee discussed access to and uptake of Voter Authority Certificates at its recent public evidence session in March. A transcript of the session is available on the Committee's website.</p><p>The Commission has said that while increases in awareness of voter ID requirement have been strong, Voter Authority Certificate applications were lower than might have been expected.</p><p>It has noted that this may reflect the number of people wanting to vote in these elections, take-up of postal and proxy voting, or that some voters have not applied in time for the deadline.</p><p>The Commission will consider the levels of take-up and the reasons for this as part of its evaluation of the implementation of voter ID. This will include detailed public survey work.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 02/05/2023 07:51:05 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1612488

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on when secondary legislation on overseas voting would need to be introduced to Parliament to ensure that all overseas voters can properly register and vote.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
	uin	181778
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>The Speaker's Committee has not had discussions with the Electoral Commission on the matter referred to.</p><p>The Commission has consistently highlighted to the UK Government that any changes to legislation should be in place six months before being implemented or complied with, so that Electoral Registration Officers, Returning Officers and voters have enough time to prepare.</p><p>The Commission is working to develop guidance for electoral administrators to help them understand and deliver the forthcoming changes to the overseas voter franchise. It will also expand its public awareness work targeting the overseas voter audience in the lead-up to UK parliamentary elections.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 24/04/2023 08:33:14 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1608795

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Absent Voting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent discussions the Committee has had with the Electoral Commission on the security of postal votes.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
	tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
	uin	176574
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2023 answer text <p>The Speaker’s Committee has not had discussions with the Electoral Commission on the matter referred to.</p><p>The Commission has highlighted that voting by post is a safe and popular method of voting, with safeguards in place to protect against from fraud. Postal voters are required to provide their signature and date of birth when applying for a postal vote, and again when casting their vote. Returning Officers are responsible for checking these match.</p><p>The Commission also encourages campaigners to follow the voluntary Code of Conduct, which makes clear that political parties and campaigners should not assist in completing a ballot paper, or handle completed ballot papers.</p><p>The Elections Act also included additional measures intended to further strengthen protections around postal voting at future elections.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 17/04/2023 09:27:14 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

1599449

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Elections: Proof of Identity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what discussions the Committee has had with the Commission on the guidance issued to local authorities on requirements to record the (a) number and (b) identity details of people turned away from polling stations for not possessing required identification.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	153994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2023 answer text <p>The Speaker’s Committee has not had discussions with the Electoral Commission on the matter referred to.</p><p>The Electoral Commission has published guidance for Returning Officers on delivering the voter ID requirement, alongside a handbook and quick guide for polling station staff. These provide staff with support and guidance to implement the legislation on polling day and manage any issues which arise, including where a voter does not have an accepted form of ID.</p><p>Legislation requires polling station staff to collect data on the number of voters not issued with a ballot paper, whether because they have produced ID which is not on the list of accepted documents or have not produced any ID at all. This data will be anonymised and then provided to the Government and the Commission after polling day.</p><p>The Commission will report on how the May 2023 elections were delivered, including how voters found taking part, and what lessons can be learned for the future.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith grouped question UIN 154026 question first answered 01/03/2023 10:43:34 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1599552

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Elections: Proof of Identity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has had discussions with the Electoral Commission on guidance to be issued during the training of polling station staff on dealing with voters who do not have eligible ID.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	154026
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2023 answer text <p>The Speaker’s Committee has not had discussions with the Electoral Commission on the matter referred to.</p><p>The Electoral Commission has published guidance for Returning Officers on delivering the voter ID requirement, alongside a handbook and quick guide for polling station staff. These provide staff with support and guidance to implement the legislation on polling day and manage any issues which arise, including where a voter does not have an accepted form of ID.</p><p>Legislation requires polling station staff to collect data on the number of voters not issued with a ballot paper, whether because they have produced ID which is not on the list of accepted documents or have not produced any ID at all. This data will be anonymised and then provided to the Government and the Commission after polling day.</p><p>The Commission will report on how the May 2023 elections were delivered, including how voters found taking part, and what lessons can be learned for the future.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith grouped question UIN 153994 question first answered 01/03/2023 10:43:34 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1589081

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Elections: Proof of Identity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee plans to make an assessment of the implications for the work of the Electoral Commission of the number of voters turned away at polling stations for not having acceptable ID on 4 May 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Mick Whitley
	uin	152307
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2023 answer text <p>The Speaker's Committee does not have any plans to make an assessment of the matter referred to.</p><p>However, the Electoral Commission will publish a full report on how the May elections were delivered, including how voters found taking part, and what lessons can be learned for the future.</p><p>As part of this process, the Commission will independently examine evidence about how the new voter ID requirement was implemented. It will collect data from every local authority that held elections, including the number of voters who did not bring an accepted form of ID with them to the polling station and were therefore unable to vote.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 28/02/2023 10:35:15 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4755 label Biography information for Mick Whitley

1581841

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2023
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Local Government: Elections
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing Ukrainian refugees resident in England to vote in local elections.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	135283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2023 answer text <p>Neither the Speaker's Committee nor the Electoral Commission has made an assessment of the matters raised. Changes to the franchise are for Parliament to consider, and not for the Electoral Commission.</p><p>Where Parliament decides to make changes to the franchise, the Commission will work with government and the electoral community to ensure they are implemented effectively.</p> answering member constituency Lancaster and Fleetwood answering member printed Cat Smith question first answered 01/02/2023 09:23:52 answering member 4436 label Biography information for Cat Smith
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1400455

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2022
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	Elections: Proof of Identity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for City of Chester, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the impact of introducing voter ID on turnout among Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities in (a) Newport West, (b) Wales and (c) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	99061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2022 answer text <p>The Electoral Commission’s independent evaluation of the Government’s pilots, held in 2018 and 2019, found no evidence that turnout was significantly affected by the trialled introduction of an ID requirement at polling stations.</p><p>However, the evaluations noted that the pilots were not representative of the UK population and it was therefore not possible to draw definitive conclusions, particularly about the likely impact at a national poll with higher levels of turnout.</p><p>The Commission will have significant responsibilities to raise public awareness about the new ID requirement. This will have a predominant focus on those demographics known to be less likely to have the necessary identification, including those from lower socio-economic groups, those with disabilities and the unemployed.</p> answering member constituency City of Chester answering member printed Christian Matheson question first answered 10/01/2022 16:53:44 answering member 4408 label Biography information for Christian Matheson
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones