HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc237-8W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government have taken to increase the turnout at general elections. [124995]

Mr. Leslie

This Government have introduced a number of measures aimed at encouraging participation in elections. We have made it easier to register to vote and to cast a vote. We are, with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, continuing to expand the programme of electoral pilot schemes to test innovative methods of voting at local elections. We have announced our intention, subject to parliamentary approval, to hold next year's European parliamentary, local and GLA elections on the same day, so that voters will only need to turn out once, rather than twice within a short period. All these measures are designed to increase flexibility and convenience for voters and thus encourage greater turnout. In addition, we introduced legislation to set up the independent Electoral Commission. The Commission has a duty to educate and inform the public about the importance of participation in the democratic process and a remit to recommend ways in which our electoral arrangements can be improved. We will consider carefully any recommendations made by the Electoral Commission which may have an impact on electoral turnout.