I am grateful to my noble friend; he is very patient. If he cannot give the answer to the original questions, there was one other one. Can he say when the Wales Assembly Government were told that this is not likely to take place on 3 May? Does he have...

I am grateful to my noble friend; he is very patient. If he cannot give the answer to the original questions, there was one other one. Can he say when the Wales Assembly Government were told that this is not likely to take place on 3 May? Does he have...

Is my noble friend asking me to write a letter to the Committee describing where the blame lies for the errors that have been made, or a letter explaining what we plan to do about introducing primary legislation to solve the problem we are discussing?

Is my noble friend asking me to write a letter to the Committee describing where the blame lies for the errors that have been made, or a letter explaining what we plan to do about introducing primary legislation to solve the problem we are discussing?

I thank the Minister for that long introduction. I know that he sat through some of the debates on the electoral Bill although he was not the Minister in charge. It is nice to see him opposite, though I am sorry that I will have to be cross because we...

I thank the Minister for that long introduction. I know that he sat through some of the debates on the electoral Bill although he was not the Minister in charge. It is nice to see him opposite, though I am sorry that I will have to be cross because we...

I have two quick questions, but the Minister may be relieved to know that they have both been asked by my noble friend Lady Hanham and the noble Lord, Lord Jones. Before I put them, I shall pick up on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, on...

I have two quick questions, but the Minister may be relieved to know that they have both been asked by my noble friend Lady Hanham and the noble Lord, Lord Jones. Before I put them, I shall pick up on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, on...

The point is well made by the noble Baroness. We shall consider this matter with some urgency and report back to the Committee. The noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was more positive about the regulations, for which we are grateful. He made a number of general points about what might be...

The point is well made by the noble Baroness. We shall consider this matter with some urgency and report back to the Committee. The noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was more positive about the regulations, for which we are grateful. He made a number of general points about what might be...

My noble friend is heroic in ploughing on as he has. Shall we assume that he will write to Members of the Committee giving details? Shall we assume also that this may be put right in the Queen’s Speech at the beginning of the next Session at the latest?

My noble friend is heroic in ploughing on as he has. Shall we assume that he will write to Members of the Committee giving details? Shall we assume also that this may be put right in the Queen’s Speech at the beginning of the next Session at the latest?

I want to strike a more positive note about the regulations than the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, did. They bring about the things that we talked about at length during passage of the Electoral Administration Bill, now the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and bring about new things with which some...

I want to strike a more positive note about the regulations than the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham, did. They bring about the things that we talked about at length during passage of the Electoral Administration Bill, now the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and bring about new things with which some...

I take no pleasure in this, but it is necessary for me to apologise again to the Committee for the errors that occurred. Obviously they are serious matters. They are rectifiable, but they have happened. In all walks of life errors sometimes occur, and I stand here representing the Government...

I take no pleasure in this, but it is necessary for me to apologise again to the Committee for the errors that occurred. Obviously they are serious matters. They are rectifiable, but they have happened. In all walks of life errors sometimes occur, and I stand here representing the Government...

It does not satisfy me at all. It is not a surprise because I had already been given the information that the Government had no idea when the measure could be introduced. It must be a one-line Bill. Both opposition parties would see it through quickly. We would not oppose...

It does not satisfy me at all. It is not a surprise because I had already been given the information that the Government had no idea when the measure could be introduced. It must be a one-line Bill. Both opposition parties would see it through quickly. We would not oppose...

I do not have the date when the First Minister was informed of the defect in the legislation, but I shall write with the date on which he was informed and send a copy of that letter to the Committee. Meanwhile, I commend the Regulations to the Committee. On Question,...

I do not have the date when the First Minister was informed of the defect in the legislation, but I shall write with the date on which he was informed and send a copy of that letter to the Committee. Meanwhile, I commend the Regulations to the Committee. On Question,...

I hear what my noble friend says. We shall consider the matter that he raised. Problems will have to be addressed.

I hear what my noble friend says. We shall consider the matter that he raised. Problems will have to be addressed.

I agree with the noble Lord, but there is nothing more I can say. A mistake has been made and I have apologised to the Committee on behalf of the Government. I have said that we will address the absolutely legitimate concerns raised, particularly by the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham.

I agree with the noble Lord, but there is nothing more I can say. A mistake has been made and I have apologised to the Committee on behalf of the Government. I have said that we will address the absolutely legitimate concerns raised, particularly by the noble Baroness, Lady Hanham.

I accept the point about the problems of attributing blame, but does the Minister accept that it is not as if we are legislating in a completely new area? We have rather extensive experience of legislating on electoral law and it is surprising that a mistake should be made in...

I accept the point about the problems of attributing blame, but does the Minister accept that it is not as if we are legislating in a completely new area? We have rather extensive experience of legislating on electoral law and it is surprising that a mistake should be made in...

Not at all, if my noble friend feels that he cannot do that. However, it is reasonable to ask for explanations to be given. With the best will in the world, the explanations given to the questions that I asked were not explanations but simply reiterated the statement that my...

Not at all, if my noble friend feels that he cannot do that. However, it is reasonable to ask for explanations to be given. With the best will in the world, the explanations given to the questions that I asked were not explanations but simply reiterated the statement that my...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Representation of the People (England and Wales) and the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. The noble Lord said: With these regulations we are also debating...

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Representation of the People (England and Wales) and the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. The noble Lord said: With these regulations we are also debating...

I am glad to follow the positive remarks of the noble Lord and I thank my noble friend the Minister for his concise statement. Of course, he carries no responsibility for the areas that are being debated, but he took a positive line in his exposition. Paragraph 7.3 of the...

I am glad to follow the positive remarks of the noble Lord and I thank my noble friend the Minister for his concise statement. Of course, he carries no responsibility for the areas that are being debated, but he took a positive line in his exposition. Paragraph 7.3 of the...

Draft SI on Representation of the People (England and Wales) and the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales). Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft SI on Representation of the People (England and Wales) and the Representation of the People (Combination of Polls) (England and Wales) (Amendment). Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Also debated with draft SI on Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales). Grand Committee held...

Draft SI on Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force on the day after that on which they are made except for the purposes of an election if the last date for the publication of the notice of election for that election is on or before 27 March 2007. Replaces previous version laid 1 March and withdrawn 19 March 2007.

Draft SI on Local Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (England and Wales). (Affirmative instrument). Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Laid before Parliament for approval by resolution of each House. Coming into force on the day after that on which they are made except for...

The co-ordinated online record of electors (CORE) : response to consultation. 108 p.

The co-ordinated online record of electors (CORE) : response to consultation. 108 p.

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Bridget Prentice, has made the following Ministerial Statement. Today, I am pleased to announce to the House the publication of my department’s response to the consultations on the co-ordinated online record of electors. CORE will provide a national source of...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Bridget Prentice, has made the following Ministerial Statement. Today, I am pleased to announce to the House the publication of my department’s response to the consultations on the co-ordinated online record of electors. CORE will provide a national source of...