HC Deb 09 November 1992 vol 213 cc628-9W
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of people entitled to vote who were not on the electoral register for the current year.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

It is estimated that 4–3 per cent. of the eligible population are not included in the 1992 register of electors. This estimate is based on the 1981 census results with an allowance for subsequent births, deaths and migration.

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publicise the availability of the postal vote for local and parliamentary elections.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

A national television and newspaper campaign costing just under £500,000 was undertaken to let people know about postal and proxy voting arrangements at the recent general election. No decision has yet been taken about publicity for the next general election. The electoral registration form, form A, contains information about postal voting. We also produce publicity material for people who need an absent vote on an indefinite basis. Local government elections are the responsibility of local authorities and we do not provide publicity for absent voting at those elections.

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what publicity will be given to electors' right to check if they are on the draft register of electors when it is published at the end of November.

Mr Peter Lloyd

Electoral registration officers are required to place notices in prominent places within their area telling people where they can inspect the draft register and how to make a claim for their name to be included in the register. Many electoral registration officers also place advertisements in local newspapers. In addition, a press release about the publication of the draft register will be distributed shortly to all national daily and Sunday newspapers and the major television companies and through the Central Office of Information news distribution system.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to introduce a voters charter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the expenditure on(a) electoral registration within the United Kingdom and(b)registration of overseas residents eligible for the United Kingdom electoral register in each of the last 10 years; and if he will also list the expenditure on electoral registration for both of the above categories in each local authority district areas as (i) a total figure in 1992 terms, (ii) as a percentage of local authority expenditure and (iii) on a per capita basis.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Details of spending by some local authorities on electoral registration on a per capita basis may be found in the report of a survey by OPCS, "Compiling the Electoral Register 1991", a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker),Official Report, 30 October, column 931, if he will make it his policy to publish the list of members of the five working groups of the Home Office joint committee on electoral matters in the Official Report.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require his working group on electoral affairs to give detailed consideration to(a) the concept of a rolling register,(b)additional powers for electoral registration officers to seek and find eligible citizens,(c)other countries' electoral registration procedures,(d)the impact of the poll tax upon levels of electoral registration and(e)the effectiveness of the current level of public spending on electoral registration.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar (Mr. Rooker) on 30 October,Official Report, columns 931–32). Within those remits, the working groups will be able to consider any matters which are relevant.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy for his working group on electoral affairs to take evidence from(a) Liberty,(b)Mencap,(c)the Royal National Institute for the Blind,(d)the Spastics Society,(e)Shelter,(f)CHAR and(g)other interested bodies.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

We have recently written to MENCAP and to MIND to seek their views on a draft practice note for electoral registration officers on the registration of mentally ill and learning disabled people. Before the general election we circulated to acting returning officers guidance produced by the RNIB on helping blind people to take part in the electoral process. We have also written to the Spastics Society offering to do the same in respect of people with physical disabilities.

Where appropriate, we will consult other voluntary groups about matters in which they have an interest; and we are always prepared to consider the views of such groups when they are submitted to us.