Live Cabinet Office Questions House of Commons

of the day in both Houses of Parliament at 11 tonight, first,

questions to the Cabinet Office Minister, Ben, full of second

reading. -- Ben Gummer. Wednesday, 22nd of February, thank you.

Although, questions to the Minister and... INAUDIBLE

Neil Parish... Minor likeness, I beg your pardon!

LAUGHTER The government published its review

to the response of electoral fraud, on the 27th of December, the

response clearly sets out the action that the government intends to take

out on each recommendation and proposes a conference programme for

reforming the electoral system and making democracy more secure. My

apologies to the both of you, I'm not sure who is more offended(!)

LAUGHTER In December, 2008, I was an election

observer in Bangladesh, because of previous voter fraud, they

photographed 80 million people, and it was clearly identifiable when

people went to vote map so has the government considered this, because

in a democracy we need as many people devote as possible but we

don't want theft of identity when people vote? A very good point made

around international comparisons, many countries across the world

including Canada, Brazil, Austria, that already have photographic ID

when it comes to pulling stations including in Northern Ireland,

introduced if 2003. The government is taking forward pilots in looking

forward at electoral identification, this will take place in local

government elections of 2018, we will test various forms of

identification, photographic ID, non-photographic ID, to make sure no

one is disenfranchised. The government talk of voter fraud is a

smoke screen for voter suppression. Macro Barack

they are putting obstacles between people and the voting booth, instead

of boosting democracy. If it is such a problem, can the Minister report

family convictions there have been four voter fraud last year? I'm

surprised the honourable gentleman for somehow claiming this was a

smoke screen, it was a Labour government which introduced

photographic ID in Northern Ireland in 2003, the electoral commission

and all other administrators have called for ID in polling stations,

when it comes to looking at IDE, we will test this vigorously when it

comes to pilots and when it comes to convictions, 481 cases of voter

fraud reported to the election commission and 184 additional cases

reported to the police. -- when it comes to looking at ID. 30% of the

population believe there is an issue with voter fraud when it comes to

their local area and it is perception we are looking to tackle.

The number of organisations that the Minister has just quoted, plus the

organisation for Security and Corporation in Europe warned us that

are a voting system is particularly vulnerable to identity theft. Given

that all those countries that the Minister said, there is no evidence

of any voter suppression, do you think, does the Minister think that

those who seek to use these conspiracy theories are in grave

risk of becoming apologists for electoral fraud? We are determined

to ensure that we have a clear and secure democracy, that voters can

have confidence in that system. As a government we have 46.5 million

people on the electoral register, Turner increasing to 30.8 million in

2015, we are determined to ensure that we have voter participation but

it is right that if there is a public perception that fraud is an

issue, perceptions can be as damaging as cases of fraud itself.

Has the Minister made any equality impact assessment on recommendations

which would ban the use of any language other than English or Welsh

in pulling stations? When it comes to the package of measures that we

reported back on Sir Eric's report, looking at the issue of language is

an important one, it is important that when comes to electoral

administrators doing their job and being confident that no one is put

under it and you pressure when it comes to voting, that we look at the

question of language. When it comes to government announcements, they

will be thorough and analysed correctly and we will go through due

process to make sure impact assessments are correctly cooperated

with. Number two, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I shall answer this

question, and question three and five together. In response to the

review of electoral fraud by my right honourable friend, we outline

the intention to run a number of pilot schemes, at a number of local

authority areas in 2018, the purpose of this is to test the impact on

elections of asking collectors to present identification. Would my

friend agree with me that voting is one of the most important duties of

a citizen, and introducing proof of ID would bring voting into line with

other everyday transactions like buying a mortgage or renting a car?

I agree with my honourable friend, when it comes to voting there cannot

be a important transaction that you can make over five years the two

elected your counsellor or MP, it is right that that process is

respected. -- -- than to elect. Turning up and claiming your name as

your identity, does not happen anywhere else and it is time to

bring democracy up-to-date. Voter fraud is unacceptable and I welcome

any measure to secure democracy. Swindon borough council has

repeatedly been commended for good election practice, with the Minister

consider us for future pilots? I would like to thank my honourable

friend for his question, we have a great deal of interest from local

authorities in the pilot process, at the moment we are conducting a

review to decide exactly what the form most pilots will take, some

will be photographic ID, some will be non-photographic ID, at the same

time we are determined to ensure that interested local authorities

can come forward in due time to participate. I addressed the

Association of electoral administrators at their annual

conference on Friday in Brighton, and 40% supported introducing ID in

polling stations. My honourable friend is absolutely right, this is

common practice in many sophisticated democracies around the

world, what best practice has the government been taking on those

other countries? One double friend is entirely right, by introducing

pilot schemes we will provide invaluable learning for

strengthening the electoral system but we also want to learn from

international comparisons such as canister, Austria and Brazil which

require voter identification. Voters in Northern Ireland, as stated, have

had to present identification since 1985 and photographic since 2003,

further information is available on the report, and we will consider

these international comparisons going forward. Thank you Mr Speaker,

the government is deluding itself if it thinks that impersonation is the

main challenge to the integrity of the democratic system, in fact, a

main challenge to its integrity and credibility is the fact that

millions of our fellow citizens who are entitled to vote do not do so,

would the government not be better to spend time and money on pilot

projects designed to increase participation such as a radical

overhaul of how we teach democratic rights in schools, pursuing online

voting, and most of all, automatic voter registration, so that the

ability to vote is not something you have to apply for. I'm grateful for

him to raise that point, we have a record 46.5 million people now on

the electoral register, Turner at elections is at a record level, what

we can and must do more. The idea of a Clare and -- the idea of a clear

democracy is important. INAUDIBLE I will be setting out the democratic

engagement strategy later in the spring, which will set out further

pilots. INAUDIBLE Will the Minister give the assurance

that the issue of postal vote applications and proxy vote

applications which also can be the subject can be kept under review in

terms of identification of the accurate person who is supposed to

be applying for the postal vote? I'm very grateful for that point being

raised, when we publish the response to Eric Pickles's report, the top

line was ID in polling stations but there are an entire package of

measures that include looking again at postal vote fraud, and banning

harvesting of personal votes by political parties and eliminating

the number of postal vote packs that can be handled by family members

down to two. The electoral commission tells us 3.5 million

genuine legitimate electors do not have valid pieces of photo

identification which would be required in the trials and they risk

being denied their votes. The motion was recently asked opposing the

trial in Kendal, Burnley are considering a similar motion, when

will the Minister abandoned his Republican party's playbook on voter

suppression and listen to the sensible voice of the good folk of

Lancashire? The honourable lady mentions the electoral commission,

what she omitted to say was that they have stated the full and

considered response from the government and the announcement of

the intention to pilot measures, the election commission are in favour of

introducing photographic ID when it comes to elections, what we have

said, when it comes to the pilots, we want evidence -based policy

making, that is why we will have pilots that look at photographic ID,

and non-photographic ID, but let me say, when it comes to ensuring

people will be able to vote I will not be denying anybody that

franchise we are protecting communities that are most vulnerable

from actually casting their vote in a secret ballot. We must protect

against and you've implements. I'm surprised she does not take this

seriously. -- we must protect against undue. INAUDIBLE

It is perfectly legal for local authorities to be able to set their

own procurement rules, taking into account additional factors such as

human rights record and environmental impact? Local

authorities must comply with European Union law, they are

enshrined in the public contracts. Would my right honourable friend

Tommy Hamid a people he has in his departmental staff that run a small

businesses and can understand small businesses when they seek to procure

public-sector contracts and against bureaucracy? My team of two

comprises of one person who has run several small businesses and one who

is a sole trader. That is 100% fulfilment on his request. We also

have a small enterprise ambassador who worked at the council to make

sure we are doing exactly as he wishes. Before he quit a friend of

mine empowered Waitrose managers... I'm not blaming him! Empowered

Waitrose managers to go out and procure local products. Cover not

give similar encouragement to bodies like county and district councils? I

commend everything that the honourable gentleman's and has done.

I know he will bring that expertise in due course to the people of the

West Midlands. What I will say is that although councils and public

bodies cannot choose according to geographical criteria, what they can

and must do is take into account the social value of the procurement

policies and that is why there is latitude for them to have similar

approaches to the one that his friend conducted at Waitrose.

Ministers have talked a great deal about linking apprenticeships to

public procurement contracts, a sensible use of public funds to meet

both the schools agenda. The commission confirmed last week that

only 10% of new apprenticeships are taken from those from low-income

families. Given the Cabinet Office's unique place to promote this agenda,

what is the minister doing to tackle this unacceptable situation? The

honourable gentleman raises are just point. The whole point behind the

apprenticeship programme is to give opportunities to people who would

not otherwise have them. That is why the 3 million target we have is

important. The public sector will contribute a significant proportion.

I'm responsible for the civil service component of that which is

successful. We've launched the standards that will surround some of

the civil service apprenticeships and a hope in time we will fulfil

Philby aspiration we both had that it will help social mobility. The

government has identified photographic and non-photographic

identification that will test ID on all aspects of election, including

turnout. I know the electoral commission on the report in Northern

Ireland said that less than 1% of voters were affected by photo ID.

That is why we want to look at both to make sure there is no

disenfranchisement taking place in our pilot. The Electoral Commission

reported in 2016 that 3.5 electors will have no appropriate form of

photo IDs. Why is it that the government is ignoring

recommendations to have a voluntary voter card which would allow those

2.5 million people to vote? The honourable gentleman is a fine

historian. Like me he believes in looking at evidence -based policy

making, which is why we have constructed the pilots to make sure

there is photographic and non-photographic identification. If

there is anyone who has no form of identification, we will make

provisions for them. When it comes to the electoral ID card rolling out

across the country, it will be expensive and we have no plans to do

so. Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each

individual department, but in answer to her specific question, civil

service headcount reduced by 303,090 -- 3390. Will he publish the

assessment regarding Brexit and the work streams that have been cut. We

have worked since July to make sure we have the proper resources in

place to make sure our exit from the European Union is done effectively

and efficiently. Departmental plans will have the kind of outline she is

seeking. As my honourable friend continues to modernise the civil

service headcount, will he make sure that apprenticeships will lead

towards a more diverse workforce to serve our communities? I will assure

my honourable friend precisely that. My predecessor started a programme

of understanding better the social and economic make-up of the civil

service and we will make sure that there is more social equality and

diversity in our civil service. We are seeking to find savings of

?15 billion by 2020. We have achieved the 3p in the last year. As

a councillor I have seen how the commissioning of services from one

provider by different public sector bodies can drive down costs,

providing high-quality services at lower costs. Are there lessons to be

learnt from all sectors of government and this programme is

evidence that the public sector can deliver more for less. He is right

to point out the Cabinet programme, but many of the lessons we can learn

is from local government and others in terms of sharing services and

cutting costs. Will he ensure that the public services can share data

because that will provide efficiency? There is a bill passing

through the house that will do just that. We are committed to

improving public services with advanced technology. We are doing

server using tools such as verified. I would liken to reassure the house

and the government that he is doing everything he can to make sure that

people can access public services online, particularly for those hard

to reach groups, like in my rural constituencies.

By ensuring we have good broadband connections are my honourable

friend's constituency, we will make sure they can access the information

online. The Cabinet Office is the centre of government. The department

is responsible for delivering a democracy that works for everyone.

We are also driving efficiencies to make government work better. Can the

Minister provides an update on any progress with the PM's order to

tackle racial disparities, given so much is already known about these

disparities. Should not then the government be getting on with doing

the great -- a great deal more about them now rather than waiting for an

audit. I find that a surprising thing from the honourable lady. It

was this government and this Prime Minister that commissioned the

racial disparity audit. Her party when in power have 13 years to do it

and did not. I'm proud of what the Prime Minister has done, we will be

publishing the audit within the next three months and she will be excited

by the possibilities of making things better in this country. Safe

tech engineering offers security for cyber issues. They need to be

licensed by another list company of the MoD. Will businesses be able to

access the markets they need? I have a responsibility for small and

medium enterprises and I will take forward his concern to make sure

they are represented. Since 2010 the has been more than 100,000 civil

service jobs gone. The 300 new recruits for the Brexit department,

is the Minister really, really serious that the UK are properly

prepared to enter the most complex negotiations for generations? The

reality is it is an absolute shambles. I am fully confident and I

am fully confident that the civil service and the marvellous people

who... Last week I met with the Sussex Police to discuss issues

including electoral fraud. What steps are being taken to make sure

that the government are involved with the returning officers. Last

Friday I addressed a conference of the National police chiefs and

electoral commission setting out why things need to be done. There have

been cases in the past were convictions have not been followed

through. It is wrong and I hope that changes in the future. One of the

government publish departmental performance regarding its commitment

to deliver ever higher levels of UK steel content in procurement policy?

My honourable friend knows it was this government that established a

far more rigorous understanding of how still content was in public

procurement policy. I will update him on the progress we are making. I

applaud the government's efforts to give more contracts to small and

medium-size enterprises and the use of technologies such as their

websites. How many businesses are signed up to this website and how

can I get more businesses in Wisbech to sign up? As of yesterday there

were 15,007 job and 45 businesses signed up. -- 15700 and 45. It is

easy to sign up and the best he can do is to tell them to do so. Will

the Minister enhance strength in the Northern Powerhouse to make sure it

you'll sure SMEs can take advantage of public procurement contracts? In

the methods I have been describing today, I shall. Will my right

honourable friend accept that when we are told that it's good to talk,

government departments are making it infinitely more difficult for

members to contact private offices on behalf of their constituents

because of the inaccuracies and the withdrawal of the central register

of private office numbers? Can the Minister tell us when the practice

of putting the communal number in the register will be stopped and the

individual numbers of ministers private offices are stored as it was

so began a public communication between ministers officers and

members on behalf of other constituents? Mr Speaker, I own

members an apology for this. If it is true that some of the telephone

numbers in the directory were both inaccurate and some were general

numbers. The revision is being made quarterly. The next one is in March

and I have instructed all departments to provide private

office numbers as members rightly expect. Order. Questions to be Prime

Minister. Mr Toby Perkins. In addition to my duties I shall

have further such meetings today Mr Speaker, the Government chose to