§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken on increasing the levels of participation in the democratic process.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNone directly, though the numbers of people registered to vote in each constituency or electoral area, and the numbers voting, are published after each parliamentary or European parliamentary general election, and following the local government elections in May each year. I understand that an opinion poll carried out by NOP in February/March 1988 found that nearly a quarter of those surveyed said that they would be more likely to vote in local elections when the community charge is introduced.