HC Deb 20 March 2002 vol 382 cc336-7W
16. Mr. Michael Jabez Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to use national insurance numbers as a means of combating electoral fraud in Northern Ireland. [42018]

19. Jean Corston

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to use national insurance numbers as a means of combating electoral fraud in Northern Ireland. [42021]

22. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland on measures to combat electoral fraud. [42024]

Mr. Browne

Government amendments to the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill in the House of Lords enable national insurance numbers to be used in the electoral process in Northern Ireland.

A person applying to the electoral register in respect of an address in Northern Ireland will be required to give their national insurance number (or to make a statement that they do not have one). A person"s name will be removed from the register in respect of any address if they return an application for registration in respect of that address without their national insurance number (or without a statement that they do not have one). Any person who provides false information on registration shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months; or a fine not exceeding level five on the standard scale, or to both.

An application for an absent vote will be granted only if it states the applicant"s national insurance number (or states that the applicant does not have one) and if the Chief Electoral Officer is satisfied that the national insurance number or statement on the application corresponds with the number or statement which the applicant gave on their application for registration.

The Chief Electoral Officer will be able to check the information given to him concerning an elector"s national insurance number with the authority responsible for them (currently the Department for Work and Pensions).