Political Parties and Elections Bill

I can assure the Minister and the House that any future Conservative Government would never take risks with the democratic process. They would take absolutely no risks with the integrity or comprehensiveness of the register or with its accuracy. I take the Minister's point about the 2012 census. At that point, when we have the results of that census, the Electoral Commission can consider those results and weigh up the work that it and electoral registration officers will have been doing by then and it might well be possible to make judgments. I also agree with the Minister that it would be difficult to introduce a new system shortly before a general election. There should be other ways of testing the system along the way to ensure that the accuracy, integrity and comprehensiveness of the register and the system are always utterly watertight. I hope that that reassures the Minister on that point. I was about to say that it is unfortunate that although these matters were properly considered in another place, this House has not had a chance to examine the Government's proposals. To be fair to the Minister, however, we discussed the principle of individual voter registration in Committee. As a result of the amendment tabled in my name and that of my right hon. and hon. Friends, we were able to examine that issue and ensure that the principles of individual voter registration were properly examined in this House. I see no dissent around me. We are all agreed that the current system is part of an antiquated electoral system that depended on the pater familias of each household determining who within that household should have a vote. That, along with many other aspects of our electoral system, is old-fashioned, outdated and no longer reflects the way in which Britain in the 21st century ought to be governed. We are very pleased that we are taking these matters forward this evening. There have been many criticisms, to which my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) alluded, of the way in which matters are currently conducted within our electoral system. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves, at this stage in the development of our democracy, with such an old-fashioned system of registration. However, may I ask the Minister what steps he has taken with the Electoral Commission and electoral registration officers to ensure that in 2010, when they have to start this process, there will be no more delays? The Minister clearly has milestones in mind. Will he undertake to report to the House on progress, so that we can tell whether the momentum that he has now built up and the enthusiasm that he has instilled in his fellow Ministers still exist and that matters are properly moving ahead? I am sure that he will be the first to say that there has been delay on this issue over the years. Now that we have got to this point of enthusiasm and unanimous support in Parliament, I hope that he will not be deterred in the work that he has begun, because the bureaucratic side of the implementation of such a system can sometimes hinder its progress. We are all agreed in principle, so let us ensure that the practicalities do not stop us. I hope that the Minister will consider a few other issues when he considers registration generally. Service registration is uppermost in our minds. Will he undertake to look again at the disgraceful disfranchisement of servicemen and women who are in theatres of conflict over recent years? According to the latest figures, possibly only 65 per cent. of service personnel are registered. At a time when people are daily risking and losing their lives in the service of this country, it is simply not right that the Government's change to the rules on service registration has made it more difficult for people in the armed forces to register. Surely, it should be made much easier for people in the armed forces to register. I agree entirely with the Minister about people who are in vulnerable situations—he mentioned the low registration among people who have problems with literacy and among certain communities in our country—but does he agree that, whatever steps we as a Parliament take, people who are serving in the armed forces and their families should be helped to register, not deterred from registering? The Government have agreed to increase by order the renewal period for registered service personnel to five years. Again, we have brought up that subject more than once over the past year or so. We strongly welcome the fact that the Government have indicated that they will take steps, but when will the Minister introduce that order? I can assure him and the House that, when he does introduce it, we will support it and help service personnel to register properly to vote. I am pleased that the Minister proposes to make progress with voluntary registration in the first instance. Again, will he undertake to report to the House on how voluntary registration is working and, likewise, on the voluntary provision of personal identifiers? All those elements are important in undertaking this difficult enterprise and in ensuring its success, as are the reports of the Electoral Commission. Will the Minister undertake to return to the House to allow it to discuss the Electoral Commission's reports, so that we might know how the enterprise is progressing and what more hon. Members on both sides of the House can do to make sure that this vital change in the very basis of our democratic system is introduced as soon, as accurately and as comprehensively as possible and to ensure the integrity of the system? Normally, at this point, Government Back Benchers jump up to challenge the Opposition's bona fides. I find that I am trying to play both parts here, since no Government Back Bencher—[Interruption.] I beg the Minister's pardon; his Parliamentary Private Secretary is present. No other Government Back Bencher is present in the House. I would not like it to be thought that Conservative Members had done anything other than won the argument. If I were to be challenged on the point, I would say yet again that our top priority is the integrity of the system, and the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register, and we will do all that we can to help the Government to introduce this vital new system, which we have supported for many years.