§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list and publish the research he has commissioned into the practice of compulsory voting in other countries; and if he will make a statement; [92132]
(2) what plans he has to increase public awareness of the issues raised by compulsory voting; and if he will make a statement. [92131]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Government are aware of academic research which has been published on voting practices in other jurisdictions, including compulsory voting, but has not commissioned any direct research on the subject. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has welcomed the recommendation by the Home Affairs Select Committee in its report on Electoral Administration and Law, published last year, that there should be a public debate on this subject, but we have no present plans to mount any public awareness campaigns on the issue.