§ Mr.Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals to improve the accuracy of electoral registers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr.MellorProposals for improving the accuracy of the electoral register were discussed in chapter 1 of the Government reply (Cmnd. 9140) to the Home Affairs Select Committee's Report on the Representation of the People Acts (HC 32), and in the associated consultation paper, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. We have now held four seminars with electoral registration officers from the London boroughs and metropolitan districts at which all aspects of the electoral registration process were discussed with particular attention to the problems faced in inner city areas. Work on the formulation of the code of best practice for the compilation of the electoral register recommended by the Select Committee is in hand. We intend to consult the political parties, local authority associations and EROs' representatives with a view to issuing the code in good time for the electoral registration canvass in autumn this year. The results will be evaluated by OPCS. In addition, we are considering, in the light of consultations on the White388W Paper, whether any amendments to the statutory provisions governing the registration of electors should be included in the forthcoming Representation of the People Bill.