Lords Amendment — 30 Mar 2004 at 15:57

1 Clause 1, Leave out Clause 1 and insert the following new Clause- "Piloting conduct at European and local elections

(1) An election to which this section applies (a pilot election) must be held-

(a) only by postal voting, and (for that purpose)

(b) in accordance with provision made by the Secretary of State by order (a pilot order). (2) These are the elections to which this section applies-

(a) the European Parliamentary general election of 2004 in a pilot region;

(b) a local government election in England and Wales if the poll at such an election is combined with the poll at an election mentioned in paragraph (a). (3) These are the pilot regions-

(a) North East;

(b) East Midlands. (4) Postal voting is voting where no polling station is used and a person entitled to vote in person or by proxy must deliver the ballot paper by post or by such other means as is specified in a pilot order.

(5) A pilot order-

(a) may modify or disapply any provision made by or under a relevant enactment;

(b) may contain such consequential, incidental, supplementary or transitional provision or savings (including provision amending, replacing, suspending or revoking provision made by or under any enactment) as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate;

(c) may make different provision for different purposes."

The Commons agree to this amendment with the following amendment-

1A Line 15, at end insert-

"(c) Yorkshire and the Humber;

(d) North West."

The Lords disagree to Commons Amendment No. 1A to Lords Amendment No. 1 for the following reason-

1B Because it is appropriate to make provision for no more than two pilot regions, as recommended by the Electoral Commission.

The Commons do not insist on their Amendment No. 1A to which the Lords have disagreed, but propose the following amendment to the Lords amendment in lieu of that amendment-

1CLeave out lines 16 to 18 and insert-

'(c) Yorkshire and the Humber;

(d) North West. ( ) Postal voting is voting where no polling station is used and a person entitled to vote in person or by proxy must deliver by post or by such other means as is specified in a pilot order-

(a) the ballot paper, and

(b) the completed declaration of identity form. ( ) The declaration of identity form is a form which is delivered along with the ballot paper and which is completed by being signed-

(a) by the person to whom the ballot paper is addressed, and

(b) by a witness to that signing whose name and address are clearly marked on the form.'

The Lords agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 1C in lieu of Commons Amendment No. 1A, but propose the following amendment thereto-

1D Line 3, at end insert- "but, in the case of either region specified in paragraph (c) or (d) above, a pilot may only take place if it is specifically recommended by the Electoral Commission in a report which is laid before both Houses of Parliament after the coming into force of this Act."

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 1D to Commons Amendment No. 1C, for the following reason-

1E Because it is not necessary to seek further advice from the Electoral Commission.

The Lords do not insist on their Amendment No. 1D to Commons Amendment No. 1C to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 1E but propose the following amendment to Commons Amendment No. 1C in lieu of Lords Amendment No. 1D-

1F Line 3, leave out-

"(d) North West."

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 1F to Commons Amendment No. 1C, for the following reason-

1G Because it is appropriate to pilot postal voting in four rather than three regions.

rose to move, as an amendment to the Motion that the House do not insist on its Amendment No. 1F to Commons Amendment No. 1C to which the Commons have disagreed for their reason numbered 1G-

1HLeave out "not".

On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 1H) shall be agreed to?

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 136; Not-Contents, 130.

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (Content)Minority (Not-Content)Turnout
Con72 (+1 tell) 034.4%
Crossbench14 1617.6%
Green1 0100.0%
Independent Labour1 0100.0%
Lab0 110 (+2 tell)59.9%
LDem45 (+1 tell) 071.9%
Total:133 12641.4%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

Lords for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible lord who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Party | Vote

NamePartyVote
Lord Ackner Crossbenchaye
Lord Alton of LiverpoolCrossbenchaye
Lord Ampthill Crossbenchaye
Viscount Brookeborough Crossbench (front bench)aye
Lord Chalfont Crossbench (front bench)aye
Lord Condon Crossbenchaye
The Earl of ErrollCrossbench (front bench)aye
Lord Greenway Crossbench (front bench)aye
Lord Molyneaux of KilleadCrossbenchaye
Lord Rees-Mogg Crossbench (front bench)aye
Lady Saltoun of AbernethyCrossbench (front bench)aye
Viscount Slim Crossbench (front bench)aye
Baroness Stern Crossbenchaye
Lord Tombs Crossbench (front bench)aye

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