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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the number and proportion of visually impaired voters who receive election communication in a format they can understand.

Mr Gary Streeter

The Electoral Commission informs me that Returning Officers (ROs) are responsible for issuing election-related communications such as poll cards and postal voting statements which must, by law, contain information telling the recipient what to do if they need the information provided in a different format. It is for ROs, in discharging their duties, to identify how best to meet the needs of individuals in their area who are visually impaired. The Commission has made no assessment of the numbers of voters who receive information from ROs in their preferred format.

The Commission also informs me that it ensures that its public information campaigns are accessible to those with visual impairments, and that the voter registration and information materials it produces are available in a variety of formats including Braille and Easy Read. The Commission has written to the RNIB, following the evidence they gave to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on 1 May, to offer to meet to discuss what else could be done to help ensure that those with visual impairments can register and vote.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the percentage annual canvass return rate was for each local government area in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Mr Gary Streeter

A copy of the information requested by the hon. Gentleman has been placed in the Library.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to cross-reference data on visual impairment with the electoral register for the purpose of improving election communications with the visually impaired.

Mr Gary Streeter

The Electoral Commission informs me that it ensures that its public information campaigns are accessible to those with visual impairments, and that the voter registration and information materials it produces are available in a variety of formats including Braille and Easy Read. The Commission has written to the RNIB, following the evidence they gave to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on 1 May, to offer to meet to discuss what else could be done to help ensure that those with visual impairments can register and vote.

The Commission also informs me that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for compiling and managing electoral registers and Returning Officers (ROs) are responsible for issuing election-related communications to those on the register. This includes poll cards and postal voting statements which must, by law, contain information telling the recipient what to do if they need the information provided in a different format. It is for EROs and ROs, in discharging their duties, to identify how best to meet the needs of individuals in their area who are visually impaired.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of electoral registration rates of attainers in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

Mr Gary Streeter

The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold separate estimates of registration rates of attainers for England, Scotland and Wales. However, its 2011 report on the completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers in Great Britain found that 55% of 17 – 18 year olds were registered to vote. The sample size of the survey does not allow for country breakdowns.

The Commission further informs me that their 2012 report on the Northern Ireland register found that 66% of 16 – 17 year olds were registered to vote.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has given across government on steps to improve communications with the visually impaired.

Mr Nick Hurd

I refer the Hon member to the Office for Disability Issues’s publication Fulfilling Potential. The Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service is working with departments to digitise public services. Our Assisted Digital approach will ensure that these services serve the needs of all users, including people with a visual impairment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department has taken to improve registration rates and voter turnout of (a) visually impaired voters and (b) voters with learning difficulties.

Greg Clark

Electoral law requires returning officers to take account of the needs of people with disabilities by making polling stations and voting accessible.

In June 2014, the government will be introducing an online facility for registration which will support further accessibility options for those with particular needs. User testing of paper forms has allowed their design to take into account the requirements of those with disabilities.

The Cabinet Office has also funded the Royal Mencap Society to create educational resources for people with a learning disability and to develop a model for one-to-one support for families, carers and others to encourage and enable registering to vote.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion and number of voters with learning disabilities who (a) register to vote and (b) vote.

Greg Clark

The Government has made no such estimate.

No record is made of disability when registering to vote or when voting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of electoral registration officers who have not fulfilled their statutory responsibilities in each of the last 10 years.

Greg Clark

The Government has made no such estimate.

Since 2008, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been subject to performance standards set and monitored by the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission publishes its annual reports on ERO performance on its website.