HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc249-50W
John Barrett

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people registered for a permanent postal vote in each year since 1997. [176738]

Mr. Leslie

Individual Electoral Registration Officers keep records of the number of postal voters in their registration area, though separate records are not kept of long-term postal voters and those for one election only. It is possible to apply for a postal vote at any time, but figures are not maintained on a yearly basis. Available statistics show that at the 2001 general election, 1,758,055 postal votes were issued in total, compared to 937,205 at the 1997 general election.

Mr. George Osborne

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the all-postal European and local election ballot in the North West of England of the delay in printing ballot packs; what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission about the delay; what information he has sent to returning officers; and what contingency plans are in place should the ballot packs not be available in time. [176818]

Mr. Leslie

My officials and I have been working very closely with returning officers, suppliers and the Royal Mail to ensure that the ballot packs were delivered in a timely manner in the four all-postal regions. Although there were delays with the product on of ballot packs for a few local authorities in the North West, I am pleased that full issue to the Royal Mail occurred within a few hours of the target deadline. There is no need to implement any further contingency arrangements. The Electoral Commission has been kept informed of developments by my officials, in order to inform their evaluation.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will instruct electoral returning officers in postal pilot regions to log(a) the total number of ballot paper envelopes received after the close of polls and (b) the postmarks on such envelopes[176834]

Mr. Leslie

Given that the Electoral Commission evaluation will include a statement of the number of ballot papers received in the period of a week after the close of poll, I have no plans to make any further such request of Returning Officers. There is no requirement for ballot pack envelopes to have postmarks on them as they are returned in prepaid envelopes.

Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have registered for a permanent postal vote in(a) Surrey and (b) South West Surrey constituency in each year from 1996. [177371]

Mr. Leslie

Individual Electoral Registration Officers keep records of the number of postal voters in their registration area, though separate records are not kept of long-term postal voters and those for one election only. It is possible to apply for a postal vote at any time, but figures are not maintained on a yearly basis. However, the following information is available for the 1997 and 2001 general elections:

Total number of postal voters
1997 2001
Surrey 17,987 31,021
South West Surrey 2,436 3,462

In addition, the Electoral Registration Officer for Waverley borough council has advised that there are currently 9,255 registered postal voters in South West Surrey constituency.

Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will invite electoral returning officers in Surrey(a) to log and (b) to report on (i) the total number of ballot paper envelopes received late and (ii) the distribution of dates on post marks. [177372]

Mr. Leslie

I have no plans at present to invite Surrey Returning Officers to make such reports. There is no provision in law for me to do so.