Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Nick Smith Excerpts
Thursday 11th April 2019

(5 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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The hon. Lady raises a very good point about the need for urgency in the rectification of small errors, so that people can get on with their lives. She has raised a particular constituency issue, and if she wants to write to me I can take it up with the Home Office on her behalf.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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I am concerned that many applications to go on the electoral register are being stymied for administrative reasons, such as the lack of a national insurance number. May we have a statement from the Cabinet Office containing an estimate of the number of uncompleted voter registration applications, and stating what the Government are doing to overcome such hurdles so that we can boost electoral registration?

Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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I am sure that hon. Members right across the House want to see electoral registration boosted and improved. That is precisely what the Cabinet Office is seeking to do, while at the same time minimising any prospect of electoral fraud. We have Cabinet Office questions on Wednesday 24 April—the first Wednesday back—and I would encourage the hon. Gentleman to raise that question then.