§ 22. Huw Irranca-Davies(Lab) (Ogmore)If he will make a statement on the postal voting pilots. [151914]
§ Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)Postal voting pilot schemes have taken place at various elections since 2000. In September last year, the Government introduced the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill to provide for electoral pilot schemes at the June 2004 elections. At the same time, the Government asked the Electoral Commission to recommend up to three regions in which it would be suitable to run pilot schemes. The commission submitted its report on 8 December 2003.
§ Huw Irranca-DaviesThe hon. Gentleman will know that the evidence shows clearly that when there has been one all-postal pilot scheme in an area, turnout is increased, and when there have been two, turnout is boosted further. He will also know that in Wales there 528 has been a single all-postal ballot in one community council. Does he therefore share my disappointment that Wales has not been fortunate on this occasion? Does he agree that we must try to be innovative, while taking on board the concerns of the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) and others? Otherwise, Wales risks being the also-rans in terms of trying to increase democratic turnout.
§ Mr. ViggersThe commission's evaluation of pilot schemes has identified that turnout has been higher when all-postal voting is used, and the effect is sustained when postal voting is used for the second or even third time. The hon. Gentleman is therefore correct. As to the June 2004 elections, the commission concluded that too high an element of risk would be involved in a pilot in Wales, as the combination of European elections and local government elections in every local authority created greater complexity than in other areas under consideration. As to the longer term, however, the commission has already recommended that all-postal voting be made widely available in England and Wales, for all local elections, subject to certain security measures.
§ Mr. Patrick McLoughlin(Con) (West Derbyshire)Has the commission considered the rules under which these postal votes will take place? What is the position in relation to supplying information to political parties during the return of ballot papers via the postal system?
§ Mr. ViggersThe Electoral Commission has expressed concern about the very point that my hon. Friend has made. It issued a statement on 23 January, in which it called on the Government to abandon plans to provide pre-poll information in the pilot areas. In the event that the Government are unwilling to do so, the commission has called for the introduction of a number of safeguards. I am therefore grateful to my hon. Friend for that question.
§ Mr. Harry Barnes(Lab) (North-East Derbyshire)What evidence does the Electoral Commission produce as to who made use of the postal votes? If the vote of young people has increased, are we sure that those votes were not exercised by their parents or some other dominant influence in their community? Do we not need to watch that, because ultimately postal votes might come to be treated like another piece of junk mail?
§ Mr. ViggersThe commission takes seriously the thrust of the hon. Gentleman's thinking. It has recommended a wide range of measures, including replacement of the current declaration of identity with a new security statement; inclusion of new secrecy warnings on postal literature and ballot papers; more effective tools for prosecutors; a new police power of arrest on reasonable suspicion of personation at any location, not just at polling stations; a marked register showing who has cast a vote by post; and tighter controls on the handling of postal ballot papers. The Electoral Commission is therefore seized of the concerns that the hon. Gentleman has expressed.