Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 December 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2010. It was answered by Gary Streeter (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

Electoral Register: Literacy

Question: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effects of standards of literacy on implementation of individual voter registration.

Answer: The Electoral Commission informs me that in 2009 it commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research on the collection of personal identifiers and the introduction of individual electoral registration. The research, which included people with a low level of literacy in the sample, found that participants experienced few difficulties in completing the forms. The findings of this research are available on the Commission's website.The Commission further informs me that its plans for reviewing the move to individual electoral registration are being developed and will include an assessment of the challenges faced by different groups when registering to vote. It is intended that those who have a low level of literacy will form part of this work.

Secondary information