§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) What steps they have taken to inform British citizens living abroad of their voting rights: (ii) what has been the cost of this exercise from 1979 to date, including the cost of legislation: and (iii) what steps they will take to make further information on voting rights available to British citizens living abroad in advance of the next general election, and what budget they have allocated for this exercise.
92WA
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Advertising campaigns to inform British citizens who are living abroad of their voting rights were undertaken in 1986, when the overseas franchise was introduced by the Representation of the People Act 1985. Advertising campaigns were also undertaken in 1990, upon the extension of the qualifying period from five to twenty years, under the Representation of the People Act 1989.
The total costs involved were £300,000 and £730,000 respectively. No further expenditure on advertising or publicity is planned for this year or next, save for an estimated £1,400 on updating posters used in British diplomatic posts abroad.
The costs of the passage of the 1985 and 1989 Acts were largely absorbed within existing provision. Estimates of any additional costs involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost.