§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will publish a list of submissions by local authorities to participate in electoral pilot schemes in local elections or local by-elections in the forthcoming 12 months; [8957]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to minimise electoral fraud in the pilot schemes for new electoral arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [8960]
§ Mr. ByersLocal authorities have been invited to submit details of proposed electoral pilot schemes for approval by the Secretary of State by 31 December 2001. We intend to publish a list of those applications as soon as possible after that date.
The invitation to local authorities indicates that the Secretary of State will approve only schemes which meet a number of criteria, one of which is that they must maintain or increase current levels of security.