Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether he will ensure that an open competition will be held for the contract to administer future hereditary peers’ by-elections.

The House has engaged Electoral Reform Services (ERS) to assist with each hereditary peers’ by-election since they were first held in 2003. When the need for a by-election arises ERS are engaged to administer and supervise the by-election and to provide assurance that it conforms to good electoral practice. This arrangement has applied each time a by-election is held. A fee is paid for ERS’ services for each by-election; there is no standing contract under which fees are paid to ERS.

The table below shows the amounts paid to Electoral Reform Services in respect of hereditary peers’ by-elections in each calendar year since 2012.

Amounts are exclusive of VAT.

The House authorities are currently reviewing the procurement arrangements under which services for hereditary peers’ by-elections are provided.