§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the submissions made to the Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures by the two main consumer credit reference agencies; and if he will make a statement. [97431]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNo. But the hon. Member may wish to ask the agencies concerned if they would agree to his doing so.
§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates his Department has made of the effect the proposals by the Home Office Working Party on Electoral Procedures on commercial access to the electoral register would have on(a) costs to and employment in the direct marketing and mail order industry and (b) fund raising by charities; and if he will make a statement. [97432]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAn extract of estimates by some businesses and charities of the costs that would result to them from a complete withdrawal of commercial access to the electoral register was attached as Annexe M of the Working Party's report, published on 19 October. The Working Party took note of these estimates in concluding that, in the wider economic interests of the United Kingdom, it would be wrong wholly to withdraw electoral registration data from commercial use. In the light of the recommendations in the report, further submissions with revised and detailed costings are being prepared by businesses, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will take these into account when considering the way forward on this issue.