---

Speakers Committee on the Electoral Commission

Answer

Mr. Robathan: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how much was spent by the Electoral Commission on raising voting awareness among service voters in each year since 2000. [216367] Mr. Viggers: Section 13 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, under which the Electoral Commission acts to raise voter awareness, came into force on 19 January 2001. The Electoral Commission informs me that it has spent £11,000 in the current financial year on measures specifically aimed at raising awareness of registration among service voters, most of it on the production and distribution to Ministry of Defence units of a leaflet providing electoral information for members of the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for all aspects of distribution within units. In 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 the Commission incurred only staff costs, which cannot be separately identified, in respect of media relations activity specifically to highlight registration amongst service voters. Commission programmes aimed at raising voter awareness generally are also likely to have made some contribution to raising voter awareness among service voters.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

216367; 431 c514-5W;431 c510-1W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Armed forces Elections Expenditure Electoral Commission Electoral register Leaflets Publicity

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk