HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc733-4W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to introduce all-postal voting in trial constituencies for the next general election; and if he will make a statement. [157304]

Mr. Leslie

None. A Bill proposing the conduct of all-postal pilots in selected electoral regions in this year's European parliamentary elections in June is currently under parliamentary consideration. Subject to the Bill's successful passage, the independent Electoral Commission will assess those schemes which are conducted. We will consider carefully the Commission's assessment and any recommendations before considering any extension of pilot schemes to parliamentary elections.

Mark Tami

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment the Department has made of(a) incentive schemes and (b) payments to encourage voter participation. [156535]

Mr. Leslie

None. Any gift or promise of a gift of money, or any other 'Valuable consideration', to an elector is regarded under electoral legislation as a bribe even if the gift is made simply to encourage the elector to vote or refrain from voting. This is a basic feature of any democratic electoral system which purports to be open and fair to all electors. Paying electors or offering gifts to turn out to vote would be likely to increase the likelihood of electoral abuse and fraud.

Mark Tami

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research the Department has collated into the propensity to vote of different social-economic groups. [156536]

Mr. Leslie

None. The Government are able to draw from research undertaken by the independent Electoral Commission on the voting intentions of electors for the European parliamentary and London's Mayoral and Assembly elections in 2004 in its report, Public Opinion and the 2004 Elections'. The Commission has also published the reports 'Voter Engagement and Young People' and Voter engagement among Black and Minority Ethnic Communities' on those groups in society widely recognised as less likely to vote.