§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken to monitor the use by political parties of the provision for registration of overseas voters for proxy vote of the Representation of the People Act 1989; (2) what guidance has been issued to groups seeking to register overseas voters as to how under the Representation of the People Act 1989 it is permissible to choose proxy voters for any particular constituency.
§ Mrs. RumboldThere is no reason for the Home Office to monitor the activities of the political parties in encouraging eligible expatriates to register as overseas electors, or in assisting them to appoint proxies to vote on their behalf. A proxy appointed to vote on behalf of an overseas elector can do so only in the constituency for which the elector is registered. Political parties are, we believe, well aware of the legal requirements for appointing a proxy, and we see no need to issue special guidance on the subject.