§ 22. Mr. Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab)What plans the commission has to reform the process of voter registration. [166164]
§ Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport) (Con)The commission published a report last year on the electoral registration process that made a number of recommendations to the Government on changes to the law and identified good practice in the management of the registration process.
§ Mr. LoveIn the three years to 2003, more than 3,700 electors disappeared from my register. In some areas, the proportion on the register is estimated to be less than 90 per cent., yet in a written parliamentary reply I was told that statistics are not kept nationally on people prosecuted for not returning an electoral registration form. Does the Electoral Commission think that the prosecution of people who have not returned electoral registration forms plays a role in the effort to increase the numbers eligible to vote?
§ Mr. ViggersThe commission does not have an enforcement role in electoral registration, so does not hold figures on prosecutions. The hon. Gentleman makes a good point, but as the commission does not have an enforcement role at present, it is difficult for it to act. I am sure, however, that it will consider the hon. Gentleman's point carefully.