Asked by: Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the rights of EU citizens resident in the UK to stand and vote in local elections before the local government elections in England and Wales in 2021.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The May local elections were postponed until 2021 due to Covid-19.
In that context, the UK Government can confirm that resident EU citizens will remain able to vote and stand in the rescheduled May 2021 local elections in England (including London Assembly elections) and the May 2021 Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales. Those elected to office will be able to serve their full term and this will also apply to those elected before 2021.
The franchise for local elections are devolved in Scotland and Wales.
The UK Government has been clear that the issue of local voting rights of EU citizens living in the UK needs to be considered alongside the rights and interests of British expats living abroad. The Government has signed bilateral voting rights agreements with Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg in 2019, and with Poland in May 2020. We continue to work on further bilateral voting rights agreements with other EU member states.
Asked by: Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the appointment on 12 May of four Non-Executive Directors to the Cabinet Office was subject to the requirements of (1) the Ministerial Code, and (2) Civil Service open competition.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Section 3.5 of the Ministerial code sets out the requirements for departmental Boards. The appointment of these members met those requirements.
Non-Executive Board members are not civil servants. Non-Executive Board members for departments are not subject to the requirements set out in the Governance Code for Public Appointments for regulated positions. However, in line with best practice, the appointment process of these Non Executives was open and transparent, and met the principles set out in the Governance Code for Public Appointments.
Asked by: Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the responses by Earl Howe on 29 January (HL Deb, col 1438) and 12 February (HL Deb, col 2264) and reports that they have changed their public position as to whether there have been successful examples of Russian disinformation affecting elections in the UK, what recent assessment they have made of evidence of Russian interference in the (1) 2016 EU referendum, (2) 2017 General Election, and (3) 2019 General Election.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
It is and always will be an absolute priority to protect our democratic and electoral processes. As previously stated, the government examines all aspects of the electoral process following an election, including foreign interference. That work is ongoing following the December 2019 General Election.
The Government saw no evidence of successful interference in the 2016 EU referendum or the 2017 General Election.
Asked by: Lord Tyler (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any copy of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2020 provided to the Government for official purposes has been given to the Conservative Party in order to support party fundraising.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No. I am helpfully informed that the Conservative Party commercially purchased a copy of the Act at a retail price. The Act, which facilitates our departure from the European Union, and delivers on the wishes of the British people, is available from all good bookshops.