Cost of hybrid/digital voting service

The request was successful.

Robert Davidson

Dear House of Commons,

Recently there has been an online voting option for MPs and Lords provided as part of the hybrid parliament during the Covid19 crisis. Please can you provide the following information in line with FOI legislation?

1) Was this service provided via a completely new web portal/app or was it additional functionality added to existing web portals/apps?
2) Who, either government department or external supplier or both, was commissioned to add this service to parliamentary proceedings? i.e. who did the coding to make the portal or add functions to the existing portal?
3) What budget lines did this activity come from?
4) How much did this new online voting cost - it would be preferred if you could provide total budget but if that is not available then person-hours would be a good replacement.

Many thanks for your time.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Davidson

FOI Commons, House of Commons

Dear Mr Davidson,

 

Freedom of Information request F20-309

 

Thank you for your request for information dated 1 July 2020, received by
us on the same date, which is copied below.

 

We will endeavour to respond to your request promptly but in any case
within 20 working days i.e. on or before 30 July 2020.

 

If you have any queries about your request, please use the request number
quoted above and in the subject line of this email.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

We will work hard to answer your information rights requests during the
current COVID 19 situation in line with statutory requirements, however
some requests may be affected by access to collections and availability of
staff. We will keep you informed of any identified delays in answering
your request.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sarah Price

IRIS Support Officer
Information Rights and Information Security (IRIS) Service | House of
Commons

 

[1]www.parliament.uk | [2]@ukparliament | [3]@houseofcommons

[4]House of Commons Privacy Notice for the Public

[5]Supporting a thriving parliamentary democracy

 

 

 

From: Robert Davidson <[FOI #673824 email]>
Sent: 01 July 2020 18:05
To: FOI Commons <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Cost of hybrid/digital voting
service

 

Dear House of Commons,

Recently there has been an online voting option for MPs and Lords provided
as part of the hybrid parliament during the Covid19 crisis. Please can you
provide the following information in line with FOI legislation?

1) Was this service provided via a completely new web portal/app or was it
additional functionality added to existing web portals/apps?
2) Who, either government department or external supplier or both, was
commissioned to add this service to parliamentary proceedings? i.e. who
did the coding to make the portal or add functions to the existing portal?
3) What budget lines did this activity come from?
4) How much did this new online voting cost - it would be preferred if you
could provide total budget but if that is not available then person-hours
would be a good replacement.

Many thanks for your time.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Davidson

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show quoted sections

FOI Commons, House of Commons

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Davidson,

 

Freedom of Information Request F20-309

 

Thank you for your request for information as copied below. You have asked
the House of Commons four questions concerning online voting for MPs and
Lords during the Covid19 crisis. Please find our responses to each of your
questions below.

 

Please note initially that the House of Commons and the House of Lords are
separate public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 (FOIA). Our response only deals with online voting information
for which the House of Commons is responsible, although some information
may be held jointly between the two Houses through the bicameral
Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) and so would cover both Houses of
Parliament. Therefore, you may wish to consider forwarding your request
for information about the Lords’ voting system to the House of Lords
directly at: [1][email address].

 

 1. Was this service provided via a completely new web portal/app or was
it additional functionality added to existing web portals/apps

 

This information is held by the House of Commons. This functionality was
developed as an extension to the existing MemberHub site (which is used by
MPs to table questions and motions) and as an extension to the existing
system for electronic recording of the names of Members voting.

 

 2. Who, either government department or external supplier or both, was
commissioned to add this service to parliamentary proceedings? i.e.
who did the coding to make the portal or add functions to the existing
portal

 

This information is held by the House of Commons. This functionality was
delivered by PDS working in partnership with the House of Commons. No
third party development or management resource was used.

 

 3. What budget lines did this activity come from?

 

This information is held by the House of Commons. The work was funded by a
reprioritisation of the On-line Systems budget provision.

 

 4. How much did this new online voting cost - it would be preferred if
you could provide total budget but if that is not available then
person-hours would be a good replacement.

 

This information is held by the House of Commons. House of Commons’
information on the provision of remote voting, including development and
hosting, records an approximate cost of £40,000 including VAT for the
hosting costs.

 

 

You may, if dissatisfied with the handling of your request, complain to
the House of Commons. Alternatively, if you are dissatisfied with the
outcome of your request you may ask the House of Commons to conduct an
internal review of any decision regarding your request.  Complaints or
requests for internal review should be addressed to: Information Rights
and Information Security Service, Research & Information Team, House of
Commons, London SW1A 0AA or [2][House of Commons request email].  Please ensure
that you specify the full reasons for your complaint or internal review
along with any arguments or points that you wish to make.

 

If you remain dissatisfied, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner
at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF,
[3]www.ico.gov.uk.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

IRIS Officer 
Informaiton Rights and Information Security (IRIS) | Research and
Information
House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA 
[4]parliament.uk
[5][IMG]

The House of Commons welcomes feedback. If you have any compliments,
complaints or comments,
about the service that you have received please send an email
to [6][email address]

 

From: Robert Davidson <[FOI #673824 email]>
Sent: 01 July 2020 18:05
To: FOI Commons <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Cost of hybrid/digital voting
service

 

Dear House of Commons,

Recently there has been an online voting option for MPs and Lords provided
as part of the hybrid parliament during the Covid19 crisis. Please can you
provide the following information in line with FOI legislation?

1) Was this service provided via a completely new web portal/app or was it
additional functionality added to existing web portals/apps?
2) Who, either government department or external supplier or both, was
commissioned to add this service to parliamentary proceedings? i.e. who
did the coding to make the portal or add functions to the existing portal?
3) What budget lines did this activity come from?
4) How much did this new online voting cost - it would be preferred if you
could provide total budget but if that is not available then person-hours
would be a good replacement.

Many thanks for your time.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Davidson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #673824 email]

Is [8][House of Commons request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to House of Commons? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[9]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[11]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

show quoted sections