Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost to (1) local authorities, and (2) the Electoral Commission, of preparation for, and administration of, the scheme of individual electoral registration, since that scheme was introduced.

The Cabinet Office has provided funding to Local Authorities to reflect the increase in costs of registration under individual electoral registration compared to the previous household system. This means that the cost of individual electoral registration has been borne directly by central Government. The amount of funding provided to local authorities in 2013-15 was some £49 million. This was shared between all Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain. This sum includes £10 million allocated to boost voter registration during the transition. The Cabinet Office continues to provide funding to assist Electoral Registration Officers with the management of electoral registration.

The Electoral Commission was a major supporter of the introduction of individual electoral registration and played an essential role in its successful implementation. Her Majesty’s Government is not in a position, however, to report on costs incurred by the Electoral Commission which is an independent body.