To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the average proportion of returned postal votes sent back to local authorities within 24 hours of close of poll in each of the last five years. (308783)

The Electoral Commission informs me that there is no requirement for returning officers to record the number of postal ballot packs received in any period before the close of poll. Returning officers are required to report the number of postal ballot packs returned in the 25 days after the close of poll, including those which were deemed undeliverable by the Royal Mail, and the latest figures are available on the Commission website at:

www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Returning officers are not required to provide information relating solely to the period of 24 hours after close of poll.