house of lords official report - United Kingdom Parliament

1143 Political Parties and Elections Bill [LORDS] Political Parties and Elections Bill 1144
Lord Bates: My Lords, the amendment stands in
my name and that of my noble friend Lord Henley. It
deals with service registration and would add a new
clause to strengthen provision for members of the
armed services to be on the electoral register. It might
be helpful for the House and for Members who were
not present when this matter was discussed in
Grand Committee if I offered a few sentences of
background before coming to the point that we are
concerned about.
Before 2001, service personnel were registered on
the electoral register through the Ministry of Defence.
This was changed to relieve the administrative burden
on the Ministry of Defence and apply a greater focus
to local authorities, which were then enabled to remove
from the register those who were no longer resident.
This period was marked by poor administration, but
all service personnel were registered during that time.
The 2001 changes resulted in a number of service
personnel not being included in the electoral register
and, given the rolling register’s four-week qualification
period and a three-week election campaign, many
service personnel were disfranchised in the 2005 general
election. The number of service voters in Great Britain
on 16 February 2001 was 175,475; the figure for 4
December 2006 was 21,000—a reduction of 150,000.
That is clearly a cause for concern, particularly given
that our Armed Forces are involved in at least two
military engagements. They are putting their lives at
risk for this country and we certainly feel that they
ought to have a say about the policy and the Government
who are responsible for dispatching them into those
engagements.
Under the terms of the Representation of the People
Act 2000, the time limit on the validity of the service
declaration for service registration was changed by the
Secretary of State from every year to every three years,
designed to coincide with the three-year postings which
have diminished currency in the current period. Service
personnel—and their husbands, wives or civil partners—
are currently able to register as an ordinary voter or a
service voter. Those based overseas can also register as
overseas voters.
Service voters are registered at a fixed address in the
United Kingdom, even if they move around. Therefore,
if used for those who are moving more frequently, or
for those who are likely to be deployed overseas frequently
or at short notice, this has a significant impact. That is
not to suggest that the Electoral Commission or, indeed,
the Government have not been alert to the problems
or not taken steps. The Electoral Commission launched
an initiative last October specifically aimed at trying
to get Armed Forces members to register. There was
an attempt to have all 4,000 units hold an electoral
registration day in November where attention would
be drawn to the issue.
8.45 pm
I come to the principal evidence causing our concern.
A survey carried out by Defence Analytical Services
and Advice, published in July 2008, surveyed 8,719
service personnel across the three services. It found
that only 69 per cent of personnel were registered to
vote. Only 62 per cent of Army respondents reported
that they were registered. Some 84 per cent of officers
were registers but only 66 per cent of the other ranks.
Only 43 per cent of overseas personnel were registered
to vote, and 31 per cent of personnel who were not
registered to vote said that they did not receive an
electoral registration form. Of the units, 70 per cent
had still not held a service electoral registration day
informing personnel about how to register to vote.
That evidence, coupled with the massive fall-off in
Armed Forces members registering to vote, was the
cause of our concern.
Lord Bach: My Lords, perhaps the noble Lord will
not mind giving way. We were very impressed by what
he had to say about this in Grand Committee, and he
is making the same points tonight. As he says, the
Ministry of Defence is making real efforts to ensure
that more service personnel are registered. I should
point out that the figures, which have come down so
much, do not take account of the number of people in
the services who have put their own names on the
register at their home addresses, as they are entitled to
do. The noble Lord is right to say that there has been a
decline, but not by that amount.
I will listen very carefully to what the noble Lord
said both last time and tonight. He knows that the
existing regime allows the period to be varied by up to
five years by order, instead of the three years at which
it stands at the moment. In respect of members of the
Armed Forces and their spouses or civil partners, if
the view is reached on consideration of the evidence
that a longer or shorter period would be beneficial, we
think that it would be important to retain that flexibility.
We think that to allow it for ever, as the amendment
provides, would automatically make the register inaccurate.
Therefore, in response to his comments and his concerns
about lower registration rates, we intend to extend the
service declaration period from three years to five
years. An increase to five years offers the additional
benefit of being the same period as the one in which
postal voters must provide new identifiers. Indeed, the
service voters’registration form, as issued by the Electoral
Commission, includes a postal vote application.
I am sorry to interrupt him. I do so in order to tell
him that we are prepared to make that concession
because of his advocacy this evening. I hope that may
assist him in continuing with his arguments.
Lord Bates: My Lords, I am happy to take such
interventions at any time. It is a very welcome intervention
and I thank the Minister. He is always extremely
courteous and thoughtful and he pays attention to the
debates. It is very encouraging that he is making that
proposal.
The proposal to have no time limit is essentially an
attempt to return to the state that existed before 2001.
I recognise that changes have come into place and I
recognise the importance of having an up-to-date and
accurate electoral register. The Minister’s offer of an
increase from three years to five will therefore be
widely welcomed not only by service personnel but by
their families. It is one way of ensuring that their
voices are heard in future elections. I am very grateful
for that reassurance.