Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kevin Foster and Gary Streeter

Thursday 7th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

Certainly, prior to 9 September, I do not speak for the Government, and therefore it is not a matter for the Electoral Commission.

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

As my hon. Friend will know, and as my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) pointed out, referendums are about settling a single question, not electing a Government on a manifesto. However, one thing that many people do want is facts. Does my hon. Friend agree that it would be worth the Electoral Commission looking at whether a fact checker-style website could be a useful source of information, given the claims made in the Scottish and EU referendums?

[Mr Streeter]

It is important that the Electoral Commission remains independent in our political debates, and it has no desire whatever to sit in judgment on the truthfulness of any claim or counterclaim. It is important, however, that all sides are responsible in the claims they make, and there are various independent means of verifying claims, but that is not a matter for the Electoral Commission.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kevin Foster and Gary Streeter

Thursday 4th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Streeter]

The Electoral Commission is extremely exercised about the issue of appointing the lead campaigns, and it will do that as soon as possible.

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

Will my hon. Friend confirm whether the Electoral Commission has given any views about potential dates for the EU referendum in June?

[Mr Streeter]

My hon. Friend has his finger on the pulse. Let me read one sentence from the appropriate letter:

“As may be expected, the impact is greater the closer together the dates of poll and is particularly significant for the first two Thursdays in June (2 and 9 June in the case of 2016.) I would encourage that these dates are avoided if it is possible to do so.”

That is the advice that the Electoral Commission has given the Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Kevin Foster and Gary Streeter

Thursday 10th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)]

6. What assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential effect of individual electoral registration on preventing fraudulent electoral registration.

[Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon)]

The Electoral Commission recommended in 2003 that individual electoral registration should be introduced in Great Britain. Requiring all electoral registration applications to be verified makes it harder to create false register entries, and helps to prevent electoral and other types of fraud.

[Kevin Foster]

I thank my hon. Friend for his answer. As he said, the Electoral Commission recommended the adoption of IER in 2003. Does he agree that it is long overdue and that the ability to register online will make it much easier for many people to engage with the democratic process?

[Mr Streeter]

As usual, my hon. Friend is right: IER has been a long time coming, but it has been carefully and successfully introduced in the past 12 months. We must pay tribute to all the electoral registration officers all over the country for their hard work. As a champion of youth engagement in democracy in his constituency, he makes an important point about online registration. There is no question but that a lot of young people have exercised their ability to register online, so making sure that our register is as full as possible.