Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between John Grogan and Chloe Smith

Wednesday 14th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab)]

1. What recent assessment he has made of the integrity of the postal voting system in local and national elections.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith)]

The British public deserve to have confidence in our democracy, and the Government are committed to ensuring that our electoral system, including postal voting, is fit for the future. Next year, Peterborough and Pendle will pilot improvements to the security of postal voting. The Electoral Commission’s evaluation of some similar 2018 pilots was published in July.

[John Grogan]

Does the Minister acknowledge that the combination of postal voting on demand in Great Britain, but not in Northern Ireland, and large extended family networks sometimes gives rise to accusations of undue influence? What safeguards can be put in place?

[Chloe Smith]

I would condemn any such undue influence, and I suspect that the hon. Gentleman and I agree on that wholeheartedly. It is really important that postal voters are aware that their vote is theirs alone. That was the subject of a major awareness campaign at past local elections, and we hope to see similar again.

--- Later in debate ---

[John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab)]

T5. In addition to the register of lobbyists, in the interests of transparency, shouldn’t all think-tanks be obliged to publish their funding sources?

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith)]

We believe that the legislation is working well, but we would be happy to look into any specific further points that the hon. Gentleman would like to make.