The Elections Bill
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Committee has launched an inquiry to examine all aspects of the Elections Bill.
27
Recommendations
23
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
9
Letters
2
Events
Activity timeline 13 events
27 Apr
2022
2022
25 Apr
2022
2022
20 Apr
2022
2022
1 Mar
2022
2022
10 Feb
2022
2022
11 Jan
2022
2022
13 Dec
2021
2021
Report published
22 Oct
2021
2021
21 Oct
2021
2021
14 Sep
2021
2021
Oral evidence
14 Sep
2021
2021
7 Sep
2021
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
14 Sep 2021
View on parliament.uk
Chloe Smith · Cabinet Office
7 Sep 2021
View on parliament.uk
The Elections Bill
Angela Kitching · Age UK
Dr Jessica Garland · Electoral Reform Society
Dr Sam Power · School of Law, Politics and Sociology, University of Sussex
Helen Mountfield QC · Matrix Chambers
Louise Edwards · Electoral Commission
Pete O’Doherty · City of London Police
Peter Stanyon · Association of Electoral Administrators
Professor Justin Fisher · Brunel University London
Professor Toby James · University of East Anglia (UEA)
The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL · Committee on Standards in Public Life
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth Report - The Elections Bill | HC 597 | 13 Dec 2021 | 50 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
2
Conclusion
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
As the Government itself acknowledges, the time available for legislative change is limited and the...
As the Government itself acknowledges, the time available for legislative change is limited and the matter of consolidating electoral law a long and widely recommended, but challenging undertaking.
Government Response
The government agrees in principle that electoral law would benefit from consolidation and acknowledges it will be a long-term project, but states its immediate priority is delivering manifesto pledges and strengthening electoral integrity.
4
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Committee urges the Government to set out a timetable for undertaking a wholesale review...
The Committee urges the Government to set out a timetable for undertaking a wholesale review and consolidation of electoral law. (Paragraph 24) Public and parliamentary consultation and scrutiny
Government Response
The government agrees in principle that electoral law would benefit from consolidation as a long-term project but defers setting a timetable, stating its immediate priority is to deliver manifesto pledges and strengthen electoral integrity.
36
Conclusion
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Committee would support any measures that increase transparency in the way the Electoral Commission’s...
The Committee would support any measures that increase transparency in the way the Electoral Commission’s compliance with the Statement is assessed by the Speaker’s Committee.
Government Response
The Government noted that the recommendation is addressed to the Speaker's Committee, which has the autonomy to set its own procedures.
37
Conclusion
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Speaker’s Committee may wish to develop the use of SMART objectives in monitoring and...
The Speaker’s Committee may wish to develop the use of SMART objectives in monitoring and assessing the Electoral Commission’s compliance with the Statement. Furthermore, reports should clarify the consequences of any disagreement(s) between the Electoral Commission and the Speaker’s Committee.
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Government Response
The Government noted that the recommendation is addressed to the Speaker's Committee, which has the autonomy to set its own procedures.
38
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
Noting the importance in maintaining the perceived and actual independence of the Electoral Commission, the...
Noting the importance in maintaining the perceived and actual independence of the Electoral Commission, the body which scrutinises the Electoral Commission’s compliance with the Statement and will play a key role in the consultation process (including providing any objections to …
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Government Response
The government notes that this recommendation is addressed to the Speaker’s Committee, which is responsible for setting its own procedures.
43
Conclusion
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Government has not clarified whether more resources and training will be provided to the...
The Government has not clarified whether more resources and training will be provided to the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland (PPS) to investigate alleged criminal offences under PPERA.
Government Response
The government states it keeps the roles and powers of the police and prosecution authorities under review for effectiveness, and that further work must be done, but does not clarify whether more resources or training will be provided.
44
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Government should set out how it will “support the police as necessary to enforce...
The Government should set out how it will “support the police as necessary to enforce electoral regulation proactively and effectively”, as committed by the Government in its letter to the Committee of 7 October 2021, including what resources it will …
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Government Response
The government states it keeps the Electoral Commission's role and police/prosecution powers under review and that further work is needed, but does not set out how it will support the police or what resources will be made available as requested.
45
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
We urge the Government to commit to review, monitor and report on potential criminal breaches...
We urge the Government to commit to review, monitor and report on potential criminal breaches under PPERA and their enforcement, which would assist in bringing forward any further legislative changes to either the civil and/or criminal sanctioning regimes. The Government …
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Government Response
The government states it keeps the Electoral Commission's role and police/prosecution powers under review and that further work is needed, but does not commit to annually reviewing, monitoring, reporting on criminal breaches, publishing findings, or laying a statement in Parliament.
46
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Government should also commit to undertaking a review of the civil sanctioning regime for...
The Government should also commit to undertaking a review of the civil sanctioning regime for electoral law offences and its interplay with criminal prosecutions under PPERA and the RPA, providing a timetable for consultation and review of the CSPL’s recommendations …
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Government Response
The government states it keeps the Electoral Commission's role and powers under review and that further work is needed on electoral law changes, but it does not commit to undertaking a specific review of the civil sanctioning regime or provide a timetable for consultation.
48
Recommendation
Deferred
Fifth Report - The Elections Bill
The Government’s response to the CSPL report on electoral finance regulation provides no indication of...
The Government’s response to the CSPL report on electoral finance regulation provides no indication of which of its recommendations (not already included in the Bill) the Government is likely to adopt (via amendment), prioritise for consultation or when or how …
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Government Response
The government states that the Elections Bill already implements some CSPL recommendations and that 'further work must be done' to consider others, but it does not provide the requested clarity on its next steps, specific adoption plans, or a timetable for future legislative action.
Correspondence 9 letters
27 Apr 2022
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the Elections Bill, dated 26.4.22
Parliament page
25 Apr 2022
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations on the Elections Bill, dated 25.4.22
Parliament page
20 Apr 2022
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Minister for Intergovernmental Relations on the Elections Bill, dated 12.4.22
Parliament page
1 Mar 2022
To committee
Letter from Matt Stringer, Chief Executive Officer, Royal National Institute of Blind People on the Elections Bill, dated 23.2.22
Parliament page
11 Jan 2022
To committee
Letter from Tom Brake, Director, Unlock Democracy et al on the Elections Bill report, dated 5.1.22
Parliament page
22 Oct 2021
From committee
Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the Elections Bill – follow up to the oral evidence session of 14th September, dated 23.9.21
Parliament page
21 Oct 2021
To committee
Letter from Kemi Badenoch MP, Joint Minister of State for Equalities and Levelling Up Communities on the Elections Bill - Follow up to the oral evidence of 14.9.21, dated 7.10.21
Parliament page
14 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution on the Elections Bill: Impact Assessment and other matters, dated 8.9.21
Parliament page
7 Sep 2021
From committee
Letter to Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution on Elections Bill impact assessment and other matters, dated 27.8.21
Parliament page