§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend relevant legislation so as to bring the availability of marked registers after parliamentary elections into line with local and European elections.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe marked copies of the electoral register used at parliamentary elections are retained by the Clerk of the Crown and are available for inspection for one year after the election. The marked registers used at European parliamentary elections are retained by the returning officer for the constituency and are also available for inspection for one year. For local government elections, the marked registers are held by the proper officer of the relevant council, and can be inspected for a period of six months following the election. In all cases copies of the marked registers may also be purchased. In consultation with the political parties and the local authority associations we are conducting a review of electoral law in the light of experience at the recent general election, and this will be one of the issues considered.