§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has held discussions with the Electoral Commission about the possibility of abandoning alphabetical listing of candidates on ballot papers(a) at future general elections and (b) in the London Mayoral and Assembly elections. [125421]
§ Mr. LeslieI have been asked to reply.
We have had no discussions with the Electoral Commission on changing the present procedure for listing candidates' names on ballot papers to be used at future general elections or the London Mayoral and Assembly elections. The Commission has recommended in its recently published 'Ballot Paper Design' that alternative listing systems should be tested through pilot schemes to assist them in determining the impact of the present arrangements. The Government are currently considering this recommendation along with all the other recommendations the Commission has recently made on reforming the electoral process.