§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he [his Ministers or his officials](a) approved and (b) were informed of the wording of the instructions to voters on the supplementary vote system used in the election for Mayor of London that were (i) printed on ballot papers, (ii) displayed in polling stations and (iii) to be given orally to voters; what discussions he [his Ministers or his officials] have had with, and what representations he has received from (1) the Greater London Returning Officer, (2) Ministers and officials in the Home Department and (3) other persons regarding the wording of the instructions used at the election for Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement. [121814]
§ Mr. HillIn March, a Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) was appointed to oversee the running of the first GLA election. In addition 14 constituency Returning Officers (CROs) were appointed to take the poll in their areas.
The wording of the instructions to voters printed on the mayoral ballot paper and displayed in polling station were prescribed in the Greater London Authority Elections (No. 2) Rules (SI 2000/427), which were approved by Parliament. No representations have been made to Ministers about the wording of the instructions; I understand that a small number of representations have been made to the GLRO.
The GLRO will be discussing experience of the election arrangements (which included a number of innovations) with the CROs, and will let me have his conclusions in due course.