Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on increasing electoral registration and voter turnout in Wales.

I have regular discussions with the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Minister for the Constitution on a range of issues, including electoral matters. The Government’s major reforms to the electoral registration system, including the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration have resulted in record levels of electors registering to vote in Wales and participating in our democracy.

The Government set out its priorities for democratic engagement for 2019 and beyond in its report Democratic Engagement: Respecting, Protecting and Promoting Our Democracy, published in January. The report highlights the Government's commitment to ensuring everyone can make their voice heard free from abuse, making voting easier and more accessible for vulnerable and under-registered groups, and introducing measures to protect electors’ votes.

The Wales Act 2017 devolved powers over National Assembly elections and local government elections in Wales. Officials from the UK Government and the Welsh Government are discussing areas for greater collaboration such as canvass reform and voter registration.