To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what representations he has received from electors who have been refused a ballot paper at an election in Northern Ireland since 2002 because of their inability to provide a required form of identification (199072)

I have received no representations to this effect. The hon. Member may wish to be aware that the Government will shortly lay draft regulations before the House which will extend the types of photographic ID accepted at polling stations in Northern Ireland to include the Translink Blind Person and War Disabled SmartPasses; and remove the requirement that ID must be current. We hope that this will reduce the number of people who find they are unable to exercise their vote on polling day as a result of bringing to the polling station ID which has recently expired or is not acceptable as proof of identity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect on voter turnout of the need for electors to provide a proof of identification at polling stations in Northern Ireland since 2002. (190071)

I have considered the information available on this subject in various reports prepared by the Electoral Commission and have been pleased to note that this important counter-fraud measure appears not to have had a significant adverse effect on the numbers voting in Northern Ireland.