Interministerial Group for Elections and Registration Communiqué: 8 March 2022
Updated 26 February 2024
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The meeting was chaired by George Adam MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business, Scottish Government
The other attending ministers were:
From the UK government:
- Kemi Badenoch MP, Minister of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- The Rt Hon Conor Burns MP, Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office
From the Welsh Government:
- Mick Antoniw MS, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution
Minister Badenoch provided an update on the UK government’s Elections Bill, advising that the Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 23 February. More information is now in the public domain including policy statements on voter identification, the new Voter Card and the plans for overseas electors. Minister Badenoch recognised that the ministers Adam and Antoniw hold differing views on some of measures in the Bill.
Minister Badenoch outlined the implementation programme for the provisions in the Bill and confirmed that it is the ambition of the UK government for all the necessary changes to be implemented this parliamentary term. Ministers discussed the challenges of the implementation timetable and the need for ongoing engagement.
Minister Antoniw set out the Welsh Government’s plans for local government elections pilots looking at improving accessibility, including advanced voting. The results of the pilots would influence the provisions within an Electoral Reform Bill which was planned for this session of the Senedd.
Minister Adam shared plans to take forward a Reform and Representation Bill during the current session of the Scottish Parliament. The Bill will have a aim to improving the accessibility of elections, with a particular focus on voters with sight loss.
Minister Burns confirmed that no substantive elections legislation is in train for Northern Ireland other than expected secondary legislation relating the UK Elections Bill.
The next meeting is will take place after the local government elections in May 2022 and will be arranged in due course.