Live Cabinet Office Questions House of Commons

Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament live coverage of the

Commons. In half an hour, Theresa May will once again be facing the

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn plus an assortment of backbencher MPs. After

that, there are two general labour lead debates, the first is on

community pharmacies and thd second is on the safety of police officers.

This afternoon at 2:45pm we go live to the Liaison Committee. So John

Chilcot will be giving eviddnce on his report. You can continud to

watch the Commons live on otr website. Let's class life ott of the

Commons. Online registration to vote has made it easier. That is a very

interesting and Sarah. How can it be building a democracy but it is

excluding nearly 2 million voters allowed to vote in the referendum

and is well affect young people in particular in universities. We are

absolutely committed to enstring that when it comes to young people

with that at the issues that mattered to them. When it comes to

boundary changes, it is right that we ensure every seat is of value.

Any situation where some sedds are 95,000 people and some seats out of

8000 people. We want to enstre every vote is equal and that incltdes

young people. Next week the youth Parliament sets in your place. Do

18-year-olds, there growing interest 18-year-olds, there growing interest

in public affairs and what we do in this place. Dewey agree that these

initiatives would help youth registration. My right honotrable

friend is right. The youth Parliament will be sitting hn this

the 11th of November. And I am sure the 11th of November. And I am sure

we look forward to listening to the issues that matter to young people.

Young people are interested in issues of mental health, curriculum

in the work and other issues being debated in this Chamber. We look

forward to working with young people to make sure their voices are heard.

I hope it will be undermining courage in chairmanship rather than

my command. The minister will be aware that in Scotland 16-ydar-olds

are able to vote and Wales has plans to change their system in this way

also. Can you respond posithvely to 16-year-olds being able to vote for

it MPs in this House and we have full democracy. We will not be

lowing the parliamentary voting age. We have debated this question on a

number of times and repeatedly voted against it. It is important to

recognise that most democracies recognised eight years old `s the

great age of some other reason is the agent had be the set on a jury.

We referred to making sure dvery is equal earlier and in rate of the

police commissioners, would you look again at first past the post being

introduced by elections and England's? We need a clear `nd

secure democracy in order to have confidence going for it. Around 8

million people voted their work 300,000 spoiled ballot papers.

Comparing that to the EU referendum, just 20,000 spoiled ballot papers.

There is clearly an issue. Has the Minister considered that thd

Government weren't so aggressively making it so difficult for lillions

of people to be on the register ended the previous Prime Minister

hasn't arrogantly dismissed the case for in franchising 16 and 17 old

Sony referendum result would be different and you would still be

Minister glove LAUGHTER It is important to recognisd that

when it came to the referendum we had erected number of peopld voting

on one side. We also had a record 46.5 mhllion

people registered to vote of which 3 million people registered using the

online system, which shows people have full confidence in our new

system going forward. Does the Minister agree with me that more

young people might register to vote if those are the positive dhfference

it made in their lives and ` decision such as travelling tuition

fees and restricting housing benefits for young people only acts

as a disincentive for young people to get involved in politics? She is

correct that there is an issue with registration when it comes to young

people. We allow registered to vote and only 37% of them choose to do

full. We need to look at issues that matter to young people. Nond of

agenda. I shall have this qtestion agenda. I shall have this

in question ten together. On October in question ten together. On October

the 7th, the Government published detailed proposals for your votes

for life. It states how we plan to scrap the 15 year time-limit on

voting for overseas. We intdnd to be in place ahead of the next general

election. 24 that reply which is encouraging. Can we go back to when

the Government can say when they will equalise the size

constituencies? We are determined constituencies? We are determined

that by the time of the next 20 0 general election, we will in syrup

that the historic principle of equal seats is put in place. If wd do not

have this reform, we will ensure that we fight our seats and it is

completely unacceptable and that is why we must press forward whth

boundary reform. Thank you. Will you also agree that by enabling British

citizens who live abroad to vote who have previously been a resident and

have been registered previotsly this Government is enabling more

people to participate in our politics and living a democracy that

really works for everyone. H entirely agree. Our proposal to

scrap the end proposal, it will mean even more Brits abroad can vote if

they so choose. How the Minhster ensure that UK citizens livhng

overseas in the EU have not only the right to vote, but also the right to

remain in EU countries? We will ensure that when it comes to our

democracy, we have a democr`cy that works for everyone, which is why we

are determined to ensure th`t when it comes to Britain's living abroad

regardless of which country, they will be able to participate in our

democracy, particulars lead those who have lived abroad for more than

15 years. Let a Labour voters who fought in World War II who hs unable

to vote right now. Alongsidd extending suffrage to UK citizens

living abroad, what consideration of the Cabinet office given to

extending suffrage in gener`l elections to all EU and

non-Commonwealth immigrants permanently living in Great Britain

and Northern Ireland? We know that when it comes to the local

government, EU citizens can already vote. When it comes to the

parliamentary suffrage, we `re extending the franchise as ly

honourable friend rightly s`ys to an extra 3.7 million Brits abroad. When

it comes to looking at thosd living in this country that is subject to

future negotiations. At a thme when the improvement or failure to

improve the democracy in thd UK the plans to remove the 15 year

time-limit for overseas votdrs handing able to relate to an

estimated 1 million expats, will the Minister expert in how this might

guidelines on permissible donors and guidelines on permissible donors and

will he assure the house th`t under no circumstances will the proposed

changes allowed unlimited political changes allowed unlimited political

financial donations from non-UK taxpayers are brought to be

political party? I would like to political party? I would like to

start by welcoming the honotrable member to his place, it is great to

see him across the dispatch box When it comes to the issue of

overseas collectors and instring that those living abroad for more

than 15 years have able votd for life, the principle is clear. We

must ensure that those people who were born in those countries who

have paid tax in this country and have paid tax in this country and

moved abroad are given a right to participate in our democracx. These

are people such as the Labotr voter who has fought in World War II. We

want to ensure that these pdople who have given something to our country

are allowed to participate hn our democracy. I shall add to this

question and question five together. The has a virus can grow

indefinitely, however comprdhensive reform is not a priority in this

Parliament given a growing number of pressing parodies elsewhere. Where

there are measures that can command consensus, we would welcome working

with peers to take them forward A simpler answer would have bden no,

we will kick that in the long grass. The House of Lords needs radical

reform and we should listen to the new Speaker who said only l`st week,

I don't think we can justifx a situation. We have over 800 peers at

the same time as you're bringing down the comments to 600 MPs. Does

the Minister agree? This was raised at an important debate on the 2 th

of October in which the has agreed with the Government that actually

this is not a priority. The Government agrees when it comes to

the priorities of the British people has a voice reform is not one of

those. The recent study by xou got shows that does 18% of the public

think the house of Lords reform is a priority and I am amazed th`t the

SNP think this is the easy that they SNP think this is the easy that they

want to campaign on. When a campaign on education, health, the issues

that matter to the Scottish people? What an outrage for a democracy was

that answer. We have the ridiculous situation that there are more

unelected members from the has a florid living in the Highlands of

Scotland and there are MPs, yet this Government wants to cut the

Democratic representation. We will be left with three Members of

Parliament in the Highlands, that is not democratic accountability. Cut

the Lords, not MPs. Difficult to detect a questionnaire. The

intellectual dexterity of the Minister will allow him to `nswer

it. We currently have proposals on boundary changes in hot Scotland

consultation and encouraging all consultation and encouraging all

members to consider. There `re a few than Scotland out twice the size of

another and historic injusthce must be rectified.

The minister is absolutely right that it's not a priority to reduce

the House of Lords, but neither is it a priority to reduce the size of

the House of Commons. As we are abolishing goodness knows

how many MEPs and taking on they will appeal should we not look again

at equalising seats and keeping the same number of members of

Parliament? The law was passed by the previous

Parliament to ensure the reduce seats from 652 600. The del`y

occurred because members op. Cit. Decided to kick the can Darnley

Road. The reduction in seats will save ?66 million across the course

of a parliament. It is right that going forward we make savings and

keep our own house order. Mr Speaker, while it's absolutely

right that they should be epual votes and they should cut the cost

of politics in the House of Commons, do you not agree that it is absurd

that there are no SMTP is a House of Lords. There are hundreds of Liberal

Democrat peers who have no representation here. We need to

balance representation in the House of Lords.

My honourable friend is absolutely right. When it comes to resolution

of seeds this has been a historic campaign called for by the Chartist

and the people's manifesto back in 1830. This government is determined

to deliver to ensure that wd have that historical wrong rightdd.

There has been much speculation that a certain Nigel Farage will be

joining a House of Lords. H`s the Government not done enough damage

already? When it comes to appointments to the

House of Lords everything is scrutinised by an independent

committee. It is right that that process is followed. Will mx

honourable friend recall thd words of Sir Winston Churchill talking

about democracy when he said not a particularly good system, btt the

best one we've got. Perhaps, just perhaps, until someone comes up with

a bad idea of a House of Lords is not that bad.

As I've said before this is not a priority for House of Lords reform.

It's a priority for the gendral public. We want to ensure going

forward we work to establish a consensus with the House of Lords

and it must be for the Housd of Lords to come up with that

consensus. Couldn't we at least get it off the

by-elections for hereditary peers? After all, when the House of Lords,

earlier this year, decided to remove the second Baron Bridges because he

hadn't turned up for five ydars without permission there was a

by-election and the 15th Earl of Cork defeated the trust Lord of

Harrington and the eighth Vhscount heard. Bottom of the list, `nd

alternative vote system was the Earl of Limerick. Doesn't this jtst bring

the whole system into disrepute Is this Blackadder or Gilbert `nd

Sullivan? When it comes to Blackadder this was

a Labour policy introduced by a Labour government. Yet another

U-turn from their Corbyn supporters. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I can

scarcely hear the honourabld gentleman. He must be heard. Thank

you Mr Speaker. I think people watching will be terrified le the

complacency of this governmdnt. Does the Minister not realise th`t the

twin actions of increasing the limit of elected members of Parli`ment

whilst at the same time redtcing the number of elected lawmakers is

seriously damaging this institution in the eyes of our own electorate,

and also law was the esteem with which we are held abroad. The

Government agrees with the privacy of the House of Commons. He made

those points on the 26th of October. The house agreed with the Government

that this is not a priority going forward. Our priority must be

equalising seats and ensuring that historic principle of bound`ry

reform occurs. Number four, please Mr Speaker. The

Government is striving towards its manifesto commitment to achheve ?20

billion of annual efficiencx savings by 2020, cutting functions by

providing expert support and advice in all areas in commercial property,

infrastructure and debt. In addition I shall be leading a review with the

Chief Secretary of the Treasury to see a further savings are possible.

The house will want to join me in congratulating the Minister on the

recent arrival of his second child, a brother for Wilfred. Can H add my

congratulations as wrong. I thank him for his answer. Can I ask how

the Government has delivered efficiency savings in the l`st term,

and how much is to come? Thank you to my honourable friend.

We saved ?18.6 billion in the last Parliament, we hope to do bdtter

than that in this Parliament. We've made a good start with over ?1.

billion saved in transforming our government works. There is lore to

do. We wish to completed. Mr Speaker, can I congratul`te you

for your energy efficiency saving this morning on the bicycle in

portcullis house. Can I ask the Minister if there is a posshbility

of tracking what honourable members can do to track savings in various

departments and the public, the wider public as well can sed the

practical benefits of the s`vings in each department was macro the

honourable gentleman makes ` sensible suggestion.

I hope will be able to give more transparency to the savings being

made in individual departments. He is right to touch on it. Thank

you, Mr Speaker. Efficiency savings can be achieved by new technology.

With the Minister in Couragd greater use of them by other departlents?

I will. There are excellent products and we are putting more mondy into

the GDS. We are using it across government and I hope that will be

one of many applications brought forward as a result of this success.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given the cost of the use of special `dvisers

has doubled in ten years and the Tory government spends more on

special advisers than the ndw Labour government is that not a silple

cost-cutting measure that could be implemented? To the contrarx

actually. We've kept the cost of special advisers under revidw. The

responsibilities being recently he'll see that the cost is being

kept down. Number six, Mr Speaker. The

Government is committed to tackling fraud in UK DW cables. We'vd already

introduced latter registrathon, we are currently considering the

findings set out in a report by the Sir Eric pickles review into

electoral fraud. We will publish a response in due course.

We want to get as many people to vote and dredged as possibld, but in

some constituencies there are still too much fraud. What more c`n be

Minister and government do `bout this?

In order to ensure a democr`cy that works for everyone we need ` clear,

secure democracy. We are determined to ensure the electoral reghster is

as complete and Abbott as possible. We have called for recommendations

for ID in polling stations. We will report back in due course. Does the

Minister believe that there are any lessons to be learned from the

additional measures in placd in Northern Ireland to tackle voter

fraud? The electoral system in Northern Ireland is separatd and has

advances when it comes to looking at security around polling stations and

electoral process. The Government is interested in looking at all

processes. We look at all examples and are happy to report back in due

course when we publish findhngs Topical questions. Topical one, Mr

Speaker. The Cabinet Office is responsible for delivering `

democracy that works for evdryone, supporting the design and ddlivery

of government policy on driving efficiencies and reforms to make

government work better. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will my right

honourable friend join me to welcome the Minister of constitutions to

work with my constituents and be domestic violence charity strvives

to reform an anonymous registration to ensure that women's silenced by

current registration process were no longer be denied the chance to

express their democratic will. I will indeed join with my

honourable friend. His commhtment to this cause is well known as is the

commitment to my honourable friend who has taken this as one of the

things he wants to achieve hn his post. The survivors of domestic

abuse, being able to vote is more than just a cross on a ballot paper.

It is a renewed statement of the Freedom that is rightfully theirs.

Let's take the Minister back to the boundary review. It's interdsting

that the Government payroll isn t being kept in this process. They

should listen to the members sitting behind them like the honour`ble

member for Shipley when he says we are talking about reducing the

number of people we are left at the ballot box, while stuffing the House

of Lords with yet more people. If this isn't a partisan process, and

given Brexit and the fact that we are removing 73 MEPs, isn't it now

time to have a fresh review based on 650 seats in this place.

I wonder whether the honour`ble gentleman would start as he means to

go on. He has five members of the opposition front bench to vdry

modest two. That shows how we can cut the cost of politics just by

being in power. After the referendum the public

administration select committee wrote to the Government suggesting

that the Government should conduct a review of civil service cap`city in

view of the extra workload being piled on Whitehall. Can my right

honourable friend give any indication as to whether such a

review is being conducted, `nd would he give consideration to conducting

such a review? It is going on at the moment. I am leading the review

myself and we have started with looking at senior civil service

capacity. It will go through the entire civil service. I'm m`king

sure I'm talking to all the ministers leading Brexit effective

departments to make sure thdy are happy with the capacity of their

officers. Thank you, Mr Spe`ker I don't disagree with the Minhster on

equalisation of constituenches but if we want equal constituencies

based on proper data, surelx the 2 million registered voters should be

taken into account in that equalisation. He talks about data.

Let's go back to the fact that if we delay bound to reform even further

we will be drying up a seat on data England and Wales from the xear

2000. 20 years ago. That is clearly unacceptable which is why wd must

assure boundary reform takes place. There are four are too many noisy

Private conversations taking place. It's very unfair on members who want

to ask questions and ministdrs who want to answer them. Let's hear the

voice of the Vale of Clwyd. One of the benefits of devolution was that

it was meant to allow the comparison of different policy approaches.

Would the Minister look at legislation to allow compathble data

across the United Kingdom? Ly honourable friend makes a sdnsible

point. We are learning a lot from devolved administrations as they

learn from us. His point is well made. We signed a concordat of

statistical evidence a few lonths ago. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Instead

of using a single example of how an ex-war veteran could justifx

extending the franchise abroad, could we not include those who live

here and pay their taxes, ET citizens. 16 and 17-year-olds. When

it comes to votes for life for Britons who've lived abroad more

than 15 years this is a manhfesto commitment that will be delhvered

for this government. We are determined to ensure that those

people who live abroad who `re British are given the right to

participate in our democracx. That is absolutely the right thing to do.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can H welcome the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

He made a powerful case for public service reform to make it more

tailored to individual needs. Can I urge my right arm of friends to be

careful when delivering it that he doesn't end up exposing or

misplacing personal data whhch is something we've seen in the past. I

will. I thank my honourable friend for his comments. It is important

that we take people with less onerous. We need to remember that

the state is to serve peopld and not the other way around. This hs why

this administration is putthng itself at the service of thd British

people. I intend public services to reflect fact. It is estimatdd that

cutting the number of MPs to 60 will save ?30 million a year. The

House of Lords allowances alone cost ?20 million a year. Does he not

accept that the cuts and savings to be made should be applied to the

unelected house is not the dlected chamber? This government is proud of

the fact that when it comes to the cost of the House of Lords ht has

been reduced by 14% since 2010. Mr Speaker, it's good to see the

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in his place. Perhaps he can set out

what his priorities will be? Mr Speaker, as the Chancellor of the

Duchy of land and asked I rdceive the administration of the estate in

the rents of the Duchy of L`ncaster. I also contribute to the

Government's policy of decision-making process for

attending cabinet and attending and cheering government committdes. This

role is not without precedent under both Labour and Conservativd

governments. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm pleased that the Governlent

plans to ordered racial disparity in public service outcomes, but can I

ask ministers, in doing so, to ensure that every government

department and agency uses the 011 census classifications which

distinguished gypsies and travellers. It's a very helpful

contribution. I will indeed ensure that. The annual campus is dxtremely

expensive. What is this govdrnment doing to reduce its costs? Ht is

right that we make the systdm less expensive. To address these aims are

taking sleep I assist you to test new explosive. There will bd 18 more

pilots in England and Wales in 017. Mr Speaker, only 51% of 16 to

17-year-olds registered to vote compared with 85% of adults. In

Neath we've had successful voter registration awareness events to

encourage and a deans to register. Willie Minister please expl`in the

Government's plans to encourage young people to vote? As part of a

democracy that works for evdryone we are determined that young pdople's

voices will be heard. That leans going around the country as I am

doing to talk with young people about their priorities and how we

can ensure they are fully involved in the democratic process. Puestions

to the Prime Minister. Mr Stephen Dowty. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This

morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues. I whll have

further meetings later todax. Foreign steel is being used in our

key defence projects. We know the Prime Minister likes to channel the

iron Lady, but when will shd show some metal in standing up for some

British made steel? This government has stood up for British made steel

and we have made a number of measures for the steel industry But

the honourable