Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the integrity of elections, and (2) the time taken to determine outcomes of disputed elections, in England.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
We have a robust electoral system that commands public confidence. Electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level and the Government committed in its 2019 manifesto to introduce a range of measures to strengthen further the electoral process, including introducing a requirement to show identification to vote at polling stations and tightening up postal vote provisions to close off opportunities for fraud in the system.
The current election petition process is designed to ensure certainty of election results and to avoid vexatious challenges by candidates or electors. The Government is aware that issues have been raised with the current challenge system, notably the high cost and complexity of the process, and will consider these matters further in consultation with stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legislative framework governing the conduct of election petitions; and what plans they have, if any, to change any such framework.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
We have a robust electoral system that commands public confidence. Electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level and the Government committed in its 2019 manifesto to introduce a range of measures to strengthen further the electoral process, including introducing a requirement to show identification to vote at polling stations and tightening up postal vote provisions to close off opportunities for fraud in the system.
The current election petition process is designed to ensure certainty of election results and to avoid vexatious challenges by candidates or electors. The Government is aware that issues have been raised with the current challenge system, notably the high cost and complexity of the process, and will consider these matters further in consultation with stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the data held by the Office for National Statistics on the Parliamentary electorate of each polling district and local authority ward as of 2 March.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The conduct of the next boundary review is a matter for the independent Boundary Commissions.
We are in regular contact with the Boundary Commissions to ensure that any issues, such as the data to be used in the next boundary review, are appropriately addressed.
The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that Electoral Statistics for the 2 March 2020 are scheduled to be published on 5 January 2021.
Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the support that the Boundary Commission for England will need from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England in accessing the latest polling district maps and data ahead of the next boundary review.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The conduct of the next boundary review is a matter for the independent Boundary Commissions.
We are in regular contact with the Boundary Commissions to ensure that any issues, such as the data to be used in the next boundary review, are appropriately addressed.
The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that Electoral Statistics for the 2 March 2020 are scheduled to be published on 5 January 2021.
Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Boundary Commissions have access to the latest polling district maps and data for the local authorities where local government wards will be considered in the next boundary review.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The conduct of the next boundary review is a matter for the independent Boundary Commissions.
We are in regular contact with the Boundary Commissions to ensure that any issues, such as the data to be used in the next boundary review, are appropriately addressed.
The Office for National Statistics has confirmed that Electoral Statistics for the 2 March 2020 are scheduled to be published on 5 January 2021.
Asked by: Lord Hayward (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the steps taken by the Office for National Statistics to ensure that parliamentary constituency boundary data for March is made available promptly to the Boundary Commissions ahead of the next review of constituency boundaries.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Hayward,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking about the steps taken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to ensure that parliamentary constituency boundary data for 1 March is made available promptly to the Boundary Commissions ahead of the next review of constituency boundaries (HL9840).
The publication of Electoral Statistics for the 2 March 2020 is scheduled for the beginning of January 2021 and we are confident of publishing at this time. The publication was originally scheduled for October 2020 but problems with Electoral Registration Officers in England and Scotland supplying the required data to ONS and National Records for Scotland meant that the release was delayed. We have been in regular contact with the Cabinet Office and the Boundary Commissions for England and Wales to ensure that any issues are appropriately addressed. We remain on track to release the Electoral Statistics on the revised publication date.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond