David Ruffley has written to both St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Mid Suffolk District Council regarding the possible disenfranchising of armed services personnel as a result of Government legislation which came into force in 2000. He has copied the letter to the Commandant at Wattisham Base, in David's constituency, as well as RAF Honington, many of whom stationed there actually live in David's constituency.

A copy of David's letter is below.

Until 2001 service personnel and spouses were only required to fill in a service registration form once during their career. Since the Representation of the People Act 2000 came into force service personnel and spouses must register annually. If based in the UK, they may register as normal civilian voters or as service voters. If they are serving overseas they must register as service voters.

Across the UK, there is an average of 3,000 or so service personnel who are entitled to vote in each constituency, with perhaps another thousand spouses. They must be on the electoral register by 11 March to vote on 5 May, the expected date of the General Election.

David said: 'I am concerned that our loyal service personnel- many of whom risk their lives in the service of their country- are being disenfranchised as a result of the new electoral rules which require service personnel to register each year. Until 7 February the MOD website had not been updated to reflect the change in the law, thus giving the impression that service personnel only had to register once during their career and not every year as is now the case.

MP colleagues who have visited Iraq say that only two out of ten soldiers were registered to vote. This is a scandal. Figures across the country show that the number of service voters has collapsed. In Suffolk I fear that many service personnel at our local bases at Honington and Wattisham will lose their democratic right to vote at the General Election in May. The Government should have done much more to publicise this change in the law. Ministers have dragged their feet on this issue. They are happy to send soldiers to war but cannot be bothered to inform them regarding their right to vote.'

HOUSE OF COMMONS

28th February 2005

Registration of Service Voters

It has been brought to my attention that there may be a significant number of service personnel who have not registered to vote. As you will be aware, they must be on the register by 11 March to vote on 5 May, the anticipated date of the General Election.

Until 2001 service personnel and spouses were only required to fill in a service registration form once during their career. Since the Representation of the People Act 2000 came into force service personnel and spouses must register annually. If based in the UK they may register as normal civilian voters or as service voters. If they are serving overseas they must register as service voters.

In some areas of the country the number of service voters has collapsed. I would be extremely concerned if this were happening in St Edmundsbury with the result that service personnel- who risk their lives in the service of their country- are, effectively, losing their democratic right to vote.

I should be grateful if you could let me know how many service voters are registered in the St Edmundsbury Borough Council area and how many registration forms have been sent to service personnel.

I look forward to hearing from you.

David Ruffley MP