HL Deb 20 November 2001 vol 628 c131WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What review has taken place of the closed party list voting system used in the last European elections; and what conclusions they have drawn about (a) the attitude of voters faced with a closed list; (b) the impact on voter turnout; and (c) the desirability of using such a system in future elections. [HL1286]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

A Home Office review of the 1999 European parliamentary election, published in May 2000, included a review of the closed list voting system and concluded that the introduction of this system appeared not to affect voter motivation in that election. There was no consideration or conclusion as to the desirability of using this system for future elections.