Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Wednesday Volume 649 14 November 2018 No. 205 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 14 November 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 295 14 NOVEMBER 2018 296 but in general terms we certainly wish to keep the postal House of Commons voting process secure and safe and to ensure that that process contributes to the overall integrity of our elections. Wednesday 14 November 2018 Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Will the Minister assure the House that if there is an early general election, our postal vote system is robust enough The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock and able to cope? PRAYERS Chloe Smith: Yes, but I do not expect it to have to. Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Does the Minister share my view that strengthening the integrity of the postal voting system will ensure that our electoral system is fit for the future? Oral Answers to Questions Chloe Smith: Yes, I do, which is why I refer again to the pilots that I mentioned in my first answer. They will be important to give voters reassurance and confidence that our system is doing what we expect it to do and thus that our elections overall are secure. CABINET OFFICE Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP): The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister Does the Minister accept that we must ensure that there for the Cabinet Office was asked— is no repeat of what happened in the most recent election in Northern Ireland, where, because the proxy Postal Voting System and postal vote system did not require people to produce photographic ID, there was a 600% increase in such voting in one constituency, resulting in a perversion of 1. John Grogan (Keighley) (Lab): What recent assessment democracy? he has made of the integrity of the postal voting system in local and national elections. [907572] Chloe Smith: I am happy to take a closer look at the The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Chloe figure that the hon. Gentleman cites and the specifics of Smith): The British public deserve to have confidence in that case. I mention again the pilots that we have tested our democracy, and the Government are committed to in 2018 and that will run again in 2019, which are about ensuring that our electoral system, including postal helping voters to be confident that the whole system—not voting, is fit for the future. Next year, Peterborough and only postal and proxy voting but the rest of the electoral Pendle will pilot improvements to the security of postal system—is secure, by means of looking into ways for voting. The Electoral Commission’s evaluation of some voters to identify themselves and show that they are similar 2018 pilots was published in July. who they say they are. John Grogan: Does the Minister acknowledge that Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con): Eric Pickles’s report the combination of postal voting on demand in Great “Securing the ballot” suggested that postal ballot Britain, but not in Northern Ireland, and large extended applications should have to be made every three years. family networks sometimes gives rise to accusations of Is my hon. Friend looking into that suggestion? undue influence? What safeguards can be put in place? Chloe Smith: I am grateful to Sir Eric Pickles, as Chloe Smith: I would condemn any such undue influence, was— and I suspect that the hon. Gentleman and I agree on that wholeheartedly. It is really important that postal Chris Green: Lord Pickles, now. voters are aware that their vote is theirs alone. That was the subject of a major awareness campaign at past local Chloe Smith: Indeed. I am grateful to Lord Pickles elections, and we hope to see similar again. for his report and his work, and we are looking carefully at the huge majority of his recommendations and taking Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): Will my hon. them forward wherever we can. Friend examine what happened at the local elections last year, particularly those in London? Large numbers Infected Blood Inquiry of voters were added to the register, had postal votes and then disappeared off the electoral register very soon afterwards. There are clearly potentially fraudulent 2. Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab): What assessment activities at work. he has made of the progress of the infected blood inquiry. [907573] Chloe Smith: I would certainly expect returning officers to look into that carefully, and I would support them in 7. Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab): What their efforts to do so. It is difficult for me to make any assessment he has made of the progress of the infected more detailed comments on that from the Dispatch Box, blood inquiry. [907578] 297 Oral Answers 14 NOVEMBER 2018 Oral Answers 298 The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister to happen. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that Members for the Cabinet Office (Mr David Lidington): The inquiry are updated about where those meetings outside London has now completed its preliminary hearings and plans are held so that we can keep our constituents informed to start its formal public hearings at the end of April and get the maximum participation? 2019. Between now and then, the inquiry will hold public meetings in 18 places throughout the United Mr Lidington: I do have a list, but rather than read it Kingdom to enable people who have been affected or out now perhaps I can write to my hon. Friend and infected to express their views to the inquiry team. The place a copy of it in the Library so that all Members inquiry has appointed 1,289 core participants, of whom know where those meetings will be taking place. 1,272 are people who have been either infected or affected by contaminated blood. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): May I suggest to the Minister that one measure that he Mike Amesbury: What steps will the Minister take to could take quite quickly is to level up all the payments repair the damaged relationship with those infected, that those who are infected and affected receive? There whose confidence in the Government has been undermined is a variation around the United Kingdom at the moment by the fiasco around their entitlement to legal aid and because of devolution, and such a move would go a now by the failure of the Cabinet Office to swiftly notify long way to show good faith to this community. Departments not to destroy relevant files? Mr Lidington: The hon. Lady has always been the Mr Lidington: As far as legal aid is concerned, more most ardent champion of those who have been affected than £250,000 has been provided to those affected by by this scandal, but it is the legal and constitutional this scandal to help them pay for their legal representation. position that each part of the United Kingdom is As regards the other matter that the hon. Gentleman responsible for its own compensation scheme, which mentioned, this was an honest mistake caused by an reflects the devolution settlement as regards health policy.1 administrative error. We explained that in full in the form of a written statement to the House and apologised Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con): Will my right hon. to the inquiry as soon as it was discovered. All Departments, Friend say a little bit more about the role that those who other than the Legal Aid Agency and the Courts and have been affected by this tragedy will have in setting Tribunals Service, have now confirmed that no relevant the terms and the scope of the inquiry? I particularly records were destroyed during the relevant period. raise this because of the issue of access to treatment, which is something that I have regularly raised and that Jeff Smith: Last month, the chair of the inquiry, I think should be explored. Sir Brian Langstaff, said that many victims of the infected blood scandal are still living on the breadline Mr Lidington: That issue is certainly one that I know today. The inquiry is not due to look at financial Sir Brian and the inquiry team want to examine and call support until 2020, so what more now can the Government evidence on. People who have been directly affected do to help the people affected? have had opportunities at the preliminary hearings to express their views. More than 1,200 of them have now Mr Lidington: As the hon. Gentleman knows, different been appointed as core participants and the forthcoming compensation packages have been agreed by the public meetings will give them a further chance to make Department of Health and Social Care in the different sure that their views are indeed heard. Sir Brian is parts of the United Kingdom. Sir Brian did ask the determined that that will be the case. Government to look at the case for some additional measures, which are being considered by the Secretary Cyber-security of State for Health and his ministerial team, and the Minister responsible for mental health, my hon. Friend 3. Leo Docherty (Aldershot) (Con): What steps the the Member for Thurrock (Jackie Doyle-Price), is very Government are taking to help improve the cyber-security 1 willing to talk to the inquiry team about that. of public and private sector organisations. [907574] Sir Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire) (Con): The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister The very comprehensive nature of this inquiry is important, for the Cabinet Office (Mr David Lidington): Our world- and it is also important that it should have a timeframe leading national cyber-security strategy, supported by that is kept to.