STATEMENT by
BRUCE CRAWFORD, Minister for Parliamentary Business
ANNE MCKECHIN, Under-Secretary of State at Scotland Office
in response to Electoral Commission report on (Interim) Electoral Management Board published on October 27, 2009.
1. We welcome the Electoral Commission's positive report on the first year of the (Interim) Electoral Board for Scotland and, in particular, the Board's successful contribution to the administration and management of the elections to the European Parliament in June 2009.
2. In the light of Ron Gould's report into the combined elections in 2007 there was general agreement that a clear and consistent national approach was needed to lead the planning and administration of elections in Scotland, starting with the European Elections in 2009.
3. After discussions between Tom Aitchison, in his role as Regional Returning Officer for Scotland for the European Elections, the Scottish Government and the Scotland Office the (Interim) Electoral Management Board for Scotland was established in October 2008 and held its first meeting on 3 December. The Board was established with the support of joint funding from the Scotland Office and the Scottish Government. While the initial focus of the Board was to ensure the smooth running of the European Elections it has also acted as a focus for the co-ordination of all aspects of electoral administration in Scotland.
4. The Board was established on an interim basis given the need to have arrangements in place in advance of the June 2009 Elections. It was always intended that these arrangements would be reviewed in the light of the Electoral Commission's report. We now have that report and this joint statement on behalf of the Scottish Government and the Scotland Office outlines the way in which we would like to see the Board develop.
5. The purpose of the Board should be clarified and set out in detail in a public and accessible form. The Board should continue with, and develop, its strategic work in addition to its necessarily events focused activity.
6. The Board should publish revised terms of reference and a clear explanation of the roles and responsibilities of those with an interest in the administration and management of elections in Scotland.
7. The Board should raise its profile within the electoral community and beyond so it is seen as the driving force for electoral administration in Scotland .
8. The Board's remit should extend to all elections in Scotland
9. The Convener should be appointed through a clear and open appointment process.
10. The role of the Convener should be clarified and set out in detail in a public and accessible form.
11. The membership of the Board should reflect and represent the 32 returning officers, 15 electoral registration officers and other electoral administrators in Scotland.
12. The Convener should have the authority to give directions to returning officers in certain identified and agreed areas where consistency is vital
13. The Board should recognise the importance of maintaining a regular dialogue with Government Ministers and Parliaments.
14. The (Interim) Electoral Management Board has demonstrated that it can provide the necessary co-ordination to facilitate the smooth running of elections in Scotland. This has been borne out by the report from the Electoral Commission.
15. This joint statement sets out the views of the Scotland Office and the Scottish Government on how the Board should develop. In issuing this statement we agree to work together (and with the Electoral Management Board) to provide the necessary framework within which electoral professionals in Scotland can continue the progress made in delivering effective and well run elections which put the voter at the heart of the electoral process.
16. Some of the developments outlined above may require legislation at Holyrood and Westminster. In the meantime we hope that the EMB will take account of our proposals and the recommendations in the Electoral Commission report in developing arrangements for the future co-ordination of electoral administration in Scotland.