House of Commons portcullis
House of Commons
Session 2010 - 11
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament


 
 

61

 

SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

 
 

Monday 18 October 2010

 

Committee of the whole House

 

Proceedings

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill


 

[second day]


 

FALLEN AMENDMENTS

 

Under the authority of the Chairman of Ways and Means, Amendments Nos. 5, 6, 14

 

to 19, 88, 143, 20, 256, 246, 257, 223, 249, 89, 121, 258, 90, 122, 21 to 28, 46, 97, 47, 48,

 

98, 49, 50, 51, 99, 52, 53, 100, 54, 55, 101, 56, 57, 102, 144, 8, 79, 9, 80, 119, 145, 10,

 

81, 11, 206 to 217, 221, 222, 12, 82, 120, 251, 224, 35, 139, 103, and 123, New Clauses

 

3 to 5 and 13 to 16 and new Schedule 1 have been removed from the Amendment paper,

 

having fallen as a result of proceedings in the Committee. The texts can be found in pages

 

286-356 of Committee of the whole House paper, dated 12 October 2010.

 


 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  261

 

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  8,  at end insert—

 

‘Counting officers

 

1A  (1)  

The counting officer for a voting area that is—

 

(a)    

a district in England,

 

(b)    

a county in England, or

 

(c)    

a London borough,

 

            

is the person who, by virtue of section 35 of the 1983 Act, is the returning

 

officer for elections of councillors of the district, county or borough.

 

      (2)  

The counting officer for the City of London voting area is the person who, by

 

virtue of that section, is the returning officer for elections of councillors of the

 

London borough of Westminster.

 

      (3)  

The counting officer for the Isles of Scilly voting area is the person who, by

 

virtue of that section, is the returning officer for elections to the Council of the

 

Isles of Scilly.

 

      (4)  

The counting officer for a voting area in Wales is the person who, by virtue of

 

provision made under section 13(1)(a) of the Government of Wales Act 2006,

 

is the returning officer for elections of members of the National Assembly for

 

Wales for the constituency that forms the voting area.

 

      (5)  

The counting officer for a voting area in Scotland is the person who, by virtue

 

of provision made under section 12(1)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998, is the


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

62

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

returning officer for elections of members of the Scottish Parliament for the

 

constituency that forms the voting area.

 

      (6)  

The counting officer for the Northern Ireland voting area is the Chief Electoral

 

Officer for Northern Ireland.’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  262

 

Schedule  1,  page  14,  line  28,  leave out sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) and insert—

 

‘Assistance to counting officers etc

 

2A  (1)  

A local authority whose area forms, or forms part of, a particular voting area

 

must place the services of their officers at the disposal of—

 

(a)    

the counting officer for the voting area, and

 

(b)    

the Regional Counting Officer (if any) appointed for the region that

 

includes the voting area,

 

            

for the purpose of assisting the officer in the discharge of his or her functions.

 

      (2)  

In this paragraph “the local authority”—

 

(a)    

in the case of a voting area that is a district or county in England, or a

 

London borough, means the council for that district, county or

 

borough;

 

(b)    

in the case of the City of London voting area, means the Common

 

Council of the City of London;

 

(c)    

in the case of the Isles of Scilly voting area, means the Council of the

 

Isles of Scilly;

 

(d)    

in the case of a voting area in Wales, means the council of a county or

 

county borough;

 

(e)    

in the case of a voting area in Scotland, means the council of a local

 

government area.’.

 

Alun Michael

 

Withdrawn  328

 

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  35,  leave out ‘may’ and insert ‘must’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  168

 

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  37,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

directions requiring them to take specified steps in preparation for the

 

referendum;’.

 

Alun Michael

 

Negatived on division  329

 

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  37,  at end insert—

 

‘(aa)    

directions about the discharge of their functions specifically in relation to

 

voters with disabilities;’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  169

 

Schedule  1,  page  15,  line  42,  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

directions requiring them to take specified steps in preparation for the

 

referendum;’.


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

63

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  263

 

Schedule  1,  page  16,  line  6,  at end insert—

 

    ‘( )  

The number of ballot papers or votes purportedly certified under this paragraph

 

or section 128 of the 2000 Act is not liable to be questioned by reason of a

 

defect in the title, or a lack of title, of any person purporting to exercise

 

functions in relation to the referendum, if the person was then in actual

 

possession of, or acting in, the office giving the right to exercise the

 

functions.’.

 

Edward Miliband

 

Sadiq Khan

 

Chris Bryant

 

Mr Peter Hain

 

Negatived on division  136

 

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  5,  at end insert ‘subject to the agreement of the Speaker’s

 

Committee on the Electoral Commission.’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  264

 

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  5,  at end insert—

 

    ‘( )  

The Electoral Commission may take whatever steps they think appropriate to

 

provide, for persons entitled to vote in the referendum, information about each

 

of the two voting systems referred to in the referendum question.’.

 

Mr Bernard Jenkin

 

Mrs Eleanor Laing

 

Mr Christopher Chope

 

Mr John Whittingdale

 

Sir Stuart Bell

 

Mr Edward Leigh

 

Not called  247

 

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  5,  at end insert—

 

‘7A(1)  

The Electoral Commission shall not issue any explanatory document to

 

persons entitled to vote in the referendum during the relevant period unless the

 

wording, content and design of such document has been agreed by both

 

organisations designated for the purposes of section 108 of the 2000 Act

 

(designation of organisations to whom assistance is available), where such

 

designations have occurred.

 

      (2)  

In sub-paragraph (1) the “relevant period” is the relevant period for the

 

referendum as defined in section 125 of the 2000 Act (restriction on

 

publication etc. of promotional period by central governement etc.).’.

 

Alun Michael

 

Not called  330

 

Schedule  1,  page  17,  line  5,  at end insert—

 

‘Disabled voters

 

7A  (3)  

The Electoral Commission must take steps to ensure that disabled voters are

 

able to access information and support to facilitate understanding and

 

participation in voting and elections.

 

      (4)  

The Electoral Commission must issue guidance in relation to ensuring voters

 

with disabilities have equality of access to the places and process of voting.’.


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

64

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  265

 

Schedule  1,  page  20,  line  38,  at beginning insert ‘Subject to sub-paragraphs (1B)

 

and (2),’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  266

 

Schedule  1,  page  20,  line  47,  at end insert—

 

  ‘(1A)  

Sub-paragraph (1B) applies to a service rendered by—

 

(a)    

the counting officer for a voting area in England, Wales or Scotland, or

 

(b)    

a Regional Counting Officer,

 

            

which in the opinion of the Electoral Commission was inadequately

 

performed.

 

    (1B)  

In respect of a service to which this sub-paragraph applies, the officer is

 

entitled under sub-paragraph (1) to no more than the amount (which may be

 

nil) that seems reasonable in all the circumstances—

 

(a)    

to the Commission, or

 

(b)    

on a taxation under paragraph 19, to the county court or Auditor.’.

 

Schedule, as amended, Agreed to.

 


 

Mr Graham Brady

 

Mrs Eleanor Laing

 

Mr Bernard Jenkin

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Withdrawn  59

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  9,  after ‘constituency’, insert ‘with the exception of citizens

 

of Commonwealth countries or, subject to sub-paragraph (c) below, of the Republic of

 

Ireland.’.

 

Natascha Engel

 

Negatived on division  332

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  19,  at end insert ‘, and

 

(c)    

the persons who, on that date, are aged 16 or 17 and would, but for their

 

age, be eligible for registration as electors at a parliamentary election in

 

any constituency.’.

 

Mr Graham Brady

 

Mrs Eleanor Laing

 

Mr Bernard Jenkin

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Not called  60

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  19,  at end insert—

 

    

‘; and

 

(c)    

citizens of the Republic of Ireland who are ordinarily resident in Northern

 

Ireland and who have chosen Irish citizenship under the terms of the

 

Good Friday Agreement.’.


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

65

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Graham Brady

 

Mrs Eleanor Laing

 

Mr Bernard Jenkin

 

Mr Charles Walker

 

Negatived on division  61

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  19,  at end insert—

 

    

‘; and

 

(d)    

British citizens living outside the United Kingdom and not currently

 

entitled to vote as electors at a parliamentary election in any

 

constituency.

 

(1A)    

The Minister shall, within one month of the day on which this Act is passed, by

 

Order provide for a system of prior registration of those entitled to vote in the

 

referendum under subsection (1)(d) above, and for mechanisms by which their

 

votes can be cast.’.

 

Andrew Rosindell

 

Not called  156

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  19,  at end insert ‘; and

 

(c)    

British subjects of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies who

 

have individually expressed a wish to participate in United Kingdom

 

Parliamentary elections.’.

 

Andrew Rosindell

 

Not called  157

 

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  19,  at end insert—

 

‘(1A)    

The Minister must, within one month of the day on which this Act is passed, by

 

Order made by statutory instrument provide for a system of prior registration of

 

those entitled to vote in the referendum under subsection (1)(d) above, and for

 

mechanisms by which their votes can be cast.’.

 

Clause Agreed to.

 

Clause 3 Agreed to.

 


 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  267

 

Schedule  2,  page  26,  line  5,  leave out ‘16th’ and insert ‘15th’.

 

Alun Michael

 

Not called  331

 

Schedule  2,  page  26,  line  31,  at end insert—

 

‘3A      

Any notices must—

 

(a)    

be published in a minimum 12 point font size, and

 

(b)    

include a prominent message in minimum 16 point font highlighting

 

the availablility of accessible formats.’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not called  333

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  3,  at end insert—


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

66

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

‘Access to voting for disabled people

 

5A         

Each ballot paper—

 

(a)    

must be produced in a range of formats accessible to people with

 

disabilities;

 

(b)    

must contain a tactile voting template to ensure participation by a blind

 

or partially sighted voter.’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not called  334

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  26,  at end insert—

 

‘(za)    

ensure such rooms selected for polling are accessible to persons with

 

disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act

 

2010,’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  170

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  33,  leave out ‘education’.

 

Edward Miliband

 

Sadiq Khan

 

Chris Bryant

 

Mr Peter Hain

 

Negatived on division  354

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  37,  at end insert—

 

‘(iii)    

a school which enjoys charitable status.’.

 

Edward Miliband

 

Sadiq Khan

 

Chris Bryant

 

Mr Peter Hain

 

Not called  355

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  38,  leave out from ‘Scotland’ to end of line 39 and insert

 

‘any school other than those which are run as profit-making enterprises’.

 

Edward Miliband

 

Sadiq Khan

 

Chris Bryant

 

Mr Peter Hain

 

Not called  356

 

Schedule  2,  page  27,  line  41,  after ‘Assembly’, insert ‘or a school which enjoys

 

charitable status’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  268

 

Schedule  2,  page  28,  line  2,  at end insert—

 

‘Modification of forms

 

9A  (1)  

The Chief Counting Officer may, for the purpose of making a relevant form

 

easier for voters to understand or use, specify modifications that are to be made

 

to the wording or appearance of the form.

 

      (2)  

In paragraph (1) “relevant form” means any of the following—

 

(a)    

Forms 3 to 11, 14 and 16 in Part 2 of this Schedule;


 
 

Committee of the whole House Proceedings: 18 October 2010    

67

 

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

the form of the notice set out in rule 16(7).

 

      (3)  

In this Part of this Act a reference to a form is to be read as a reference to that

 

form with any modifications specified under paragraph (1).

 

      (4)  

Where a form is modified by virtue of paragraph (1), section 26(2) of the

 

Welsh Language Act 1993 applies as if the modified form were specified by

 

this Act.’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  269

 

Schedule  2,  page  28,  line  8,  leave out ‘16th’ and insert ‘15th’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not called  335

 

Schedule  2,  page  28,  line  29,  leave out from beginning to ‘about’ and insert

 

‘information’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not called  336

 

Schedule  2,  page  28,  line  32,  at end insert—

 

‘(ba)    

a transcription into large or giant print;’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not called  337

 

Schedule  2,  page  28,  line  32,  at end insert—

 

‘(ba)    

a transcription into electronic format;’.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister

 

Agreed to  270

 

Schedule  2,  page  29,  line  6,  leave out paragraphs (3) and (4) and insert—

 

    ‘(3)  

In England, the polling station allotted to electors from any parliamentary

 

polling district wholly or partly within a particular voting area must, in the

 

absence of special circumstances, be in the parliamentary polling place for that

 

district unless the parliamentary polling place is outside the voting area.

 

    (3A)  

In Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, the polling station allotted to electors

 

from any polling district must be in the polling place for that district.

 

      (4)  

The polling districts and polling places that apply for the purposes of paragraph

 

(3A) are—

 

(a)    

in Wales, those that would apply by virtue of provision made under

 

section 13(1)(a) of the Government of Wales 2006 in respect of an

 

election for membership of the National Assembly for Wales held on

 

the day of the referendum;

 

(b)    

in Scotland, those that would apply by virtue of provision made under

 

section 12(1)(a) of the Scotland Act 1998 in respect of an election for

 

membership of the Scottish Parliament held on the day of the

 

referendum;

 

(c)    

in Northern Ireland, those for the time being established under the law

 

relating to local elections with the meaning of section 130 of the

 

Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.’.

 

Luciana Berger

 

Not selected  338

 

Schedule  2,  page  29,  line  7,  at end insert ‘in whatever manner the voter thinks most

 

convenient.


 
contents continue
 
House of Commons home page Houses of Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 2010
Revised 19 October 2010