The Representation of the People (Amendment) Regulations 2008

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of these Regulations)

Regulations 3 to 5 amend Parts 7 and 8 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/341) (“the 2001 Regulations”), which make provision for the supply and inspection of election documents produced at UK Parliamentary or local government elections in England and Wales.

Regulation 4 provides that any marked notices which amended the electoral register used at a Parliamentary or local election are part of the “marked register or lists” (as defined by regulation 116(1) of the 2001 Regulations) which may be supplied in accordance with Parts 7 and 8 of the 2001 Regulations. Regulation 5 substitutes a new formula for the calculation of the fee for the supply of a copy of the whole or any part of the marked register or lists produced at a Parliamentary or local government election in England and Wales. Before the coming into force of these regulations, the fee was the same as that set out in regulation 111(5) of the 2001 Regulations for the sale of the full register of electors to credit reference agencies and government departments. The new formula will have the effect of reducing the fee payable for supply of this information.

By virtue of the existing provisions in Part 8 of the 2001 Regulations, the new fee will also apply to the supply of marked registers or lists produced at a Welsh Assembly election.

Regulations 6 to 8 make equivalent amendments to the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/497). Those amended regulations only apply to documents produced at UK Parliamentary elections in Scotland.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.