§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he has that the electoral register is being used by criminals to identify potential victims such as women on their own.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are aware of suggestions that some criminals may use the electoral register as one of a number of possible sources of information about householders, but have not received specific information to suggest this has happened, except in two cases which have occurred in the Bristol area where the police think that the electoral register was used in this way.
§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 so that people wishing to consult the electoral register should do so in the presence of the custodian;
(2) if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 so that whilst the electoral register must be freely available to the general public, people who wish to consult it should be asked for their name and address and proof of identity.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are not persuaded that such amendments should be made. Such restrictions could discourage members of the public from inspecting the electoral register, which provides an important check on its accuracy.