---

Electoral Administration Bill

We have had a very good debate. I noted and understood the passion with which Members made their case. I hope that Members in all parts of the House will recognise that Ministers in both the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Ministry of Defence have tried to deal with the concerns raised here—particularly by the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie)—and in the other place. I hope that Opposition Members will read the Lords amendment in detail. It may not go as far as they would like, but it gives the Secretary of State for Defence an obligation to encourage registration. I also hope that they do not continue to make a mistake that has been made in some contributions to the debate, which is to mix up registration with deciding to vote; there is a difference between being on the register and then making the conscious decision to go out and vote. I remind Members that there are other amendments in this group—affecting people with disabilities, and so on—that I hope they can support. Nevertheless, while I ask them to support the amendments from the House of Lords, I also ask them to oppose amendment (a) to Lords amendment No. 6. Lords Amendment agreed to. Lords Amendments Nos. 2 to 5 agreed to.