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Electoral Administration Bill

I agree with the hon. Gentleman’s point about the mathematical facts. Undoubtedly, under-registration is a bigger issue numerically than wrongful or fraudulent registration—he makes that point very well—but confidence is also an issue. Amendment No. 14 rightly points to the fact that the public’s attitude is an issue in how an election may be decided in certain circumstances. The Government should take this issue seriously. They should consider those foreign nationals who may be on the register unwittingly, not intentionally or fraudulently, and therefore give electoral registration officers the right and duty to investigate such matters, and encourage them to do so. That is the way forward.