§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take to improve publicity on the(a) availability and procedure for postal and proxy votes and (b) the procedure for voter registration. [1495]
5W
§ Mr. George HowarthAbsent voting facilities were publicised at the general election through a television campaign and advertisements, including an application form, in national daily, national Sunday and ethnic minority newspapers. We are reviewing the effectiveness of this publicity and are considering how best to publicise this autumn's canvass for electoral registration.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a standing electoral commission to monitor and keep under review electoral law, procedure and practice. [1496]
§ Mr. HowarthWe have no present plans to do so.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State of the Home Department what steps he will take to reform the procedure of electoral registration; and what steps he will take to reduce the amount of time which elapses between the last day for registration for a given election, and the election. [1494]
§ Mr. HowarthWe have no plans at present to make changes to the system of electoral registration, or to extend the time before an election during which additions can be made to the register beyond the current deadline of the closing date for candidates' nominations for the election concerned. But we will keep these matters under review.