HC Deb 13 September 2004 vol 424 cc1442-3W
20. Mr. Robathan

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the recent report of the Electoral Commission on all-postal ballots. [187917]

Mr. Viggers

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant).

Norman Baker

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Committee is taking to determine whether the Electoral Commission is assessing the integrity of the postal ballot in an efficient and effective manner. [187912]

Mr. Viggers

The Speaker's Committee has a statutory obligation to satisfy itself that the Electoral Commission's Estimates and Corporate Plans are consistent with the economical, efficient and effective discharge by the Commission of its functions before it lays these before the House. Within that framework, and subject to any statutory directions it may receive from the Government in respect of particular matters, it is for the Commission itself to decide how it discharges its functions.

On 27 August, in accordance with its statutory obligations under the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Act 2004. the Commission published four regional evaluation reports following the all-postal pilot schemes earlier this year. The reports include assessments as to the integrity of the pilot schemes; a separate report published on the same day also makes recommendations for future improvements in relation to postal voting more generally.

Mr. Betts

To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the recent report by the Electoral Commission on all-postal ballots. [187913]

Mr. Viggers

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant).