HL Deb 17 December 2002 vol 642 cc88-9WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recent e-voting trials commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions were subject to the gateway review procedure; and, if so, what was the outcome of the review. [HL425]

Lord Rooker

The 2002 electoral modernisation pilot programme was subject to a gateway review process. The review decided that the project should proceed and also made a number of recommendations to improve the process, which were carefully taken into account.

A gateway review is currently under way for the 2003 electoral modernisation pilot programme. The next stage of this review is planned for early January 2003. The gateway reviews are proving beneficial to this project and careful regard is being had to their recommendations. The process is based on well-proven techniques that lead to more effective delivery of benefits together with more predictable costs and outcomes.

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the reports commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on recent e-voting trials. [HL424]

Lord Rooker

Copies of the Electoral Commission's strategic evaluation report of the May 2002 electoral modernisation pilot programme, together with the government response to the recommendations of the report, were placed in the Library of the House in September. The reports for each of the 30 individual pilot schemes, including the nine e-voting pilots, have been on the Electoral Commission's website and available from local authorities since August. I have today placed copies in the Library of the House.