Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2026 to Question 8252 on Election Pilot schemes, for what reason the applications were withdrawn; how much was spent on cancelled voting pilots; and whether any other local authorities had cancelled pilots and compensation.

A number of local authorities withdrew their applications to participate in flexible voting pilots for the May 2026 elections following the planned postponement of their polls, which meant pilots could no longer be delivered as intended, despite the elections going ahead.

In addition, Plymouth City Council withdrew due to safety concerns arising from a planned protest outside the proposed pilot venue on the day of the pilot.

The total provided in respect of pilot delivery activity that could not proceed following a local authority's withdrawal from the May 2026 flexible voting pilots was £394,272. Funding was also provided for the development of wider pilot capability that was not deployed at the May 2026 elections but may be used to support potential future pilots.