HC Deb 17 January 2000 vol 342 cc545-6
6. Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West)

What discussions he has had with the Cabinet Office regarding the regulatory impact assessment for the Representation of the People Bill. [103966]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mike O'Brien)

The regulatory impact assessment was available when the Bill was published on 18 November, and it expressed the Government's collective view.

Mr. Swayne

The impact assessment is a very thin document. How did the costs to business—estimated by the Confederation of British Industry at hundreds of millions of pounds—entirely escape those who made the assessment?

Mr. O'Brien

The regulatory impact assessment assesses impact on the economy. The CBI's estimate is more concerned with the impact on particular businesses. When businesses seek alternative sources of information, they may find that the whole economy will benefit. The Bill's provisions were agreed by Conservative representatives on the electoral procedures working party, and resulted from the data protection directive, to which the Conservative party signed up.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire)

If the seven batches of amendments that I tabled to the Representation of the People Bill had been accepted, there would have been cost compliance provisions and, presumably, some knock-on effect as regards the assessment. I do not know whether any assessment was made of how much I would have cost the nation—or the economy—if those measures had been developed. Is it not better to spend money—as the Bill does—on electoral registration so as to ensure that it is fully achieved, rather than on measures that would destroy it? That was what the Opposition did when they were in government and introduced the poll tax.

Mr. O'Brien

My hon. Friend is right. I am sure that Conservative Members' constituents will be bewildered by the fact that some of them appear to oppose provisions in the Bill that would make it easier for people to vote. Why are they so frightened that people should be able to vote?