HL Deb 23 June 1998 vol 591 cc15-6WA
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What efforts they have made to ascertain where and when the Independent Commission on the Voting System has held public meetings; how many members of the public attended, apart from people engaged in organising the meeting; and what was the total attendance of the general public as a percentage of the total electorate entitled to vote in the United Kingdom; and [HL2335]

Whether they are satisfied that the public meetings of the Independent Commission on the Voting System are a sufficient means of ascertaining the general views of the public; and, if not, what other means of testing opinion have been or will be arranged; and [HL2336]

What are the numbers of full and part time staff engaged in servicing the Independent Commission on the Voting System; and what is the cost of the monthly wage bill; and [HL2337]

What scale expenses are paid to members of the Independent Commission on the Voting System; and [HL2338]

How the general public are notified of public meetings held by the Independent Commission on the Voting System; and [HL2339]

Whether any particular individuals or groups were specifically invited to any of the public meetings held by the Independent Commission on the Voting System. [HL2340]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Independent Commission on the Voting System is an independent body and is responsible for its own procedures.

I understand that the commission has held public meetings in Cardiff (on 10 March), Belfast (on 12 March), Edinburgh (on 24 March), Leeds (on 6 April), Birmingham (on 28 April), Manchester (on 21 April), Plymouth (on 29 April) and Newcastle (on 5 May). A further public meeting will shortly take place in London (on 1 July). In addition, members of the commission have attended a number of other meetings to which they have been invited.

A wide variety of groups and individuals were invited to the public hearings, including various community/interest groups, political parties, local government representatives, business interests, academics, trade union representatives and, in most cases, the local Members of Parliament. On average, 80 people attended each meeting.

The meetings were publicised by means of poster campaigns in public buildings, including libraries, citizens advice bureaux, schools, colleges and universities, and advertisements and articles in the regional press. In addition, the chairman and other members of the independent commission gave interviews to the local media, radio and television before the public meetings.

After the independent commission has reported, a referendum will be held to enable the public to express a view on whether they wish to retain the first-past-the-post system for elections to the House of Commons, or adopt the system recommended by the independent commission as the most suitable alternative.

The independent commission employs four full-time staff and its monthly salary bill is approximately £9,500.

The commissioners themselves receive travel and subsistence expenses for travel outside London, paid at normal civil service rates.