Written questions by Holmes.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, whether an election offence of intimidating council staff can apply after the close of poll, including to election counts.

Provisions in the Representation of the People Bill will empower courts to give tougher sentences to those who abuse candidates, campaigners, elected representatives and electoral staff by introducing a new statutory aggravating factor. The Bill will also extend the disqualification order regime, so that intimidatory offences against electoral staff can now lead to the application of a disqualification order. As drafted, a relevant offence committed after the close of poll would lead to the application of the aggravating factor and a disqualification order, as long as the offender can be shown to have been motivated by hostility towards electoral staff.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Representation of the People Bill, at what point political parties and elected representatives will have access to the date of birth of an attainer elector.

Under the provisions set out in the Representation of the People Bill as they stand, no political parties or elected representatives will have access to the date of birth of attainers (those aged 14 and 15) under any circumstances.The Government takes the safeguarding of young people and their data seriously, with strict controls set out in legislation on who can access information from the electoral register and for what purpose. The approach set out in the Representation of the People Bill balances the need for proportionate safeguards within our electoral system, without disadvantaging young voters from being able to participate in it.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Improving voter registration, published on 2 March 2026, if he will make it his policy to place markers on the electoral roll where (a) UK nationals and (b) foreign citizens have been automatically added.

The Government has no plan to make it its policy to place markers on the electoral register to differentiate between UK nationals and foreign citizens.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on the withdrawal of certificates authorising party political descriptions before the close of nominations.

The Commission provides guidance for candidates and agents on the certificate of authorisation and the nominations process. There is currently no provision to allow for the withdrawal of certificates of authorisation once received by the Returning Officer.The Representation of the People Bill proposes a change to enable parties to withdraw support from a candidate up to 48 hours before the end of the nominations period, where nomination papers have already been submitted.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on declaring corporate sponsorship to Members’ Associations.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance sets out that sponsorship of events, publications, or research must be treated as a donation and the same permissibility checks apply. A members’ association must report donations (including sponsorship) when the amount from one source exceeds £11,180.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on whether named promoters on (a) hard copies and (b) digital imprints can be unincorporated associations.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance on print and digital imprints states that an unincorporated association, such as a political party, may be the promoter of campaign material. Some parties choose to have a named individual as the promoter, publishing the material on behalf of a party whose details are also on the imprint. Other parties choose to list only the party on the imprint. Both approaches provide transparency for voters.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how long the Electoral Commission will hold data from proposed returns under the Representation of the People Bill; and whether that data will be (a) published online and (b) archived.

The Representation of the People Bill proposes extending the Electoral Commission’s remit to include enforcement of the candidate spending regime. The Bill would require candidates to submit spending returns to the Commission and to Returning Officers.Returning Officers will continue to make spending returns available for a two-year period. The Commission will publish spending returns through its Political Finance Online system, beyond the two-year retention period. This will provide important transparency for voters.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on the resignation of election agents without the consent of the candidate after the close of nomination.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents outlines that once an agent has accepted their appointment, they cannot resign and must fulfil the duties required of them unless the candidate revokes their appointment.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to EROs on accepting scanned copies of postal vote application forms.

For elections taking place in England, or at a UK Parliamentary general election, the Electoral Commission’s guidance for Electoral Registration Officers sets out the number of ways voters can apply for a postal vote. Postal vote application forms are not prescribed, and a paper postal vote application can be in any format, including an email with a scanned attachment.Postal vote applications must contain all the required information, and the applicant’s signature and date of birth must be presented in the prescribed format, for the voter’s identity to be verified and application confirmed.The Commission publishes similar guidance for elections in Scotland and in Wales.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued to local authorities on the use of (a) churches, (b) synagogues and (c) mosques as polling stations.

Returning Officers are responsible for deciding where polling stations should be situated. The Commission provides guidance for Returning Officers on booking suitable polling stations. Returning Officers are often faced with limited options in selecting polling stations. The Commission’s guidance advises them to select a suitable venue based on size and accessibility.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued updated guidance following the passage of the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman to the answer provided to Question 116490 which explains that the Commission’s guidance was updated to reflect the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on the language of imprints.

There are no requirements in law on the language of imprints. The Electoral Commission’s guidance on print and digital imprints sets out the information that must be included in an imprint. Imprints must be legible or in the case of audio material, audible, no matter what device is used to access the information.The purpose of an imprint is to ensure that voters know who is responsible for campaign material. Where material is published to target voters whose first language is not English, an imprint in the same language would be one way of ensuring that this is transparent to those voters.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local authorities by his department on whether (a) churches, (b) synagogues and (c) mosques may be used as polling stations.

The independent Electoral Commission is responsible for providing guidance to Returning Officers, including on the booking of appropriate polling places. The Electoral Commission is also responsible for setting standards and monitoring the performance of Returning Officers.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 90712, on Elections: Proof of Identity, whether prepaid bank cards offered by financial institutions registered outside the United Kingdom, including companies such as Suits Me, will be eligible as proof of identity.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 116475 on 9 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has been made of the potential impact of adopting an opt-in approach to the open electoral register on the level of revenues to local authorities accrued from the sale of open electoral register data to third parties.

The primary purpose of the electoral register is to enable those who are eligible to vote, to register and ensure only people who are eligible to vote are permitted to do so. HMG has not made assessment of the impact on the level of revenue to LAs accrued from the sale of the open register. However, the Impact Assessment published alongside the Representation of the People Bill, did consider the potential impact on its commercial value.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his press release of 16 December 2025 entitled Urgent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics, what is the evidential basis that political donations can currently be made to shell companies.

Currently, the legal test for permissible donations from companies is that they are registered under the Companies Act 2006, incorporated in the UK, and carrying on business in the UK. This last requirement is vague and easy to satisfy, even without having a genuine and strong connection to the UK. It means a newly created shell company with no trading history can legally donate. This is an unacceptably low threshold and a vulnerability in our system highlighted by many independent experts, including the Electoral Commission, the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the National Crime Agency. That is why we have introduced reforms which will require companies (and limited liability partnerships) making donations to demonstrate a genuine and substantive connection to the UK or Ireland, preventing the use of shell companies to channel foreign or illicit money into UK politics. We are introducing new, stringent eligibility criteria for companies and limited liability partnerships wishing to make political donations. Companies/LLPs will have had to make sufficient revenue to cover their donation; be headquartered in the UK; and be majority owned or controlled by UK electors or UK citizens usually resident in the UK. These changes are to ensure that political donations reflect genuine UK-based interests and help prevent foreign interference in our democracy.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of trends in the number of registered postal votes in the last six months.

Information relating to postal vote applications is held by independent Electoral Registration Officers rather than the UK Government and so it is not possible to provide more information about the number of postal vote applications that were not renewed during any period. The department does not actively track trends in the level of postal vote renewals, or the number and proportion of postal vote applications that were renewed, over any period.The Government will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and with local authorities to support independent Electoral Registration Officers with postal vote application activities.

Communities and Local Government, whether the full report by Philip Rycroft into foreign financial interference in UK politics will be laid before the House when it is completed.

In December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. The review findings will be delivered to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Security Minister by the end of March 2026. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will ensure Mr Rycroft’s report is made available to Parliament at the earliest opportunity after it is received.

Communities and Local Government, whether automatic electoral registration, following the proposed reduction in the voting age, will be used to add attainer voters under 16 to the electoral roll.

Should some form of automated registration be introduced using the powers set out in the Representation of the People Bill, this does not apply to attainers (those aged 14 or 15). The duty on Electoral Registration Officers would only apply where they become aware of a person who is of voting age (i.e. someone aged 16 or older). 14- and 15-year-olds will be able to submit their own applications to be attainers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her department is taking to support democratic elections overseas, including in relation to challenging practices by foreign governments of (a) cancelling and (b) delaying elections.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 December 2024 to Question 19695.