Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 32
The Committee welcomes the proposed steps from the Electoral Commission to improve guidance provision, including...
Recommendation
The Committee welcomes the proposed steps from the Electoral Commission to improve guidance provision, including a strategy to support smaller parties, reviewing response times, exploring the viability of ‘account managers’, increasing consultation with parties and campaigners on draft guidance, and delivering more training. As part of the training offer, we recommend interactive modules on the relevant legislation and including case studies in the guidance for both parties and non-party campaigners to support volunteers. We recommend the inclusion of the Government’s view in the draft Strategy and Policy Statement that the Electoral Commission should be seeking regular feedback from stakeholders when preparing guidance should be maintained in the final iteration of the Statement. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement should extend to parties and campaigners of all sizes, in addition to larger parties through the four party panels, to ensure the training and guidance meets the needs of its users.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendations are primarily addressed to the Electoral Commission, and they will consider the suggestion to expand the Strategy and Policy Statement to specify parties and campaigners of all sizes, and make any changes deemed necessary before laying the draft Statement before Parliament.
Paragraph Reference:
32
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government notes that these recommendations are primarily addressed to the Electoral Commission. We note, however, the Committee’s recommendation that the reference in the Strategy and Policy Statement to the importance of the Commission engaging with stakeholders to source regular feedback on the guidance it produces is expanded to specify parties and campaigners of all sizes. We will consider this suggestion alongside other views and make any changes deemed necessary before laying the draft Statement before Parliament. We will also publish a response to the statutory consultation as required by the provisions in the Elections Act.