HC Deb 08 March 2004 vol 418 c1367W
Dr. Whitehead

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what appraisal his Department has made of the adequacy of arrangements for registering electors for parliamentary elections. [158958]

Mr. Leslie

The Representation of the People Regulations 2001 introduced a number of changes to electoral registration arrangements, including a scheme of "rolling registration" that enables names to be added to the electoral register at any time of the year, and enabling persons without a conventional address to register to vote. The Government considers that the recent changes to registration procedures have both made it easier to register to vote and resulted in a more accurate and up to date register. The Government will keep under review the arrangements for registering electors and is currently considering recommendations on the subject made by the independent Electoral Commission.