HC Deb 20 April 2004 vol 420 c463W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to allow serving prisoners to vote in(a) local and (b) general elections; and if he will make a statement. [166795]

Mr. Leslie

At present, convicted and detained prisoners are not able to vote in UK elections. On 30 March 2004, the European Court of Human Rights gave its judgment in the case ofHirst v. The United Kingdom, concerning the disfranchisement of convicted prisoners. The Court found that there had been a breach of the applicant's human rights. We are currently carefully considering the implications of the judgment and what action we might take.