HL Deb 07 March 2005 vol 670 cc52-3WA
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many canvassers are employed by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in connection with the annual canvass of electors; what are their duties; and what is the cost of this operation. [HL1455]

Baroness Amos

In 2004 930 canvassers were employed by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. Their duties were:

to call at each household within a specified area to hand deliver pre-addressed individual electoral registration forms;

where contact with a member of the household was achieved, to explain the registration process, to provide new or additional forms to accommodate changes to the information for that household on the then current register, and to obtain a signature as proof of delivery;

where no contact was made, to deliver the individual electoral registration forms for that household and guidance notes;

to review the then current database of residential properties in the allocated area and to update the information held accordingly;

to revisit each household within 10 days of the delivery date to collect the forms and to check that they are fully completed;

to assist electors with queries regarding the completion of the form;

where no contact was made, to leave additional forms, guidance notes and a Freepost return envelope; and

to make a weekly visit to the local area electoral office to submit all collected forms.

The cost of this operation in 2004 was £829,000.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the 83,000 voters missing from the electoral register in Northern Ireland have been successfully visited by canvassers in order to ascertain if they still wish to register; whether the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland has put in place pilot trawls to establish reasons for non-registration; and, if so, what the results have been. [HL1456]

Baroness Amos

This issue is an operational matter and is, therefore, the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. He will be writing to the noble Lord in due course.

A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Forward to