§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to prevent the use of the Electoral Register by commercial organisations for sending unwanted direct sales marketing to registered electors. [97149]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Working Party on Electoral Procedures, in its report published on 19 October 1999, recommended that each individual registered elector should have the option of deciding whether the details that they have provided should be included in the commercially available register by using an opt out box on the registration form. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has indicated that he will seek the earliest opportunity for legislation on the Working Party's proposals, but I cannot anticipate whether a Bill containing provisions about this particular matter will be included in the Queen's Speech for the next session.