The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

[F1 Processing of information provided in connection with an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD E+W

29ZB.— (1) If a person provides an original document under regulation 26A(4), 26B(2) to (4) or 26B(8), the registration officer must make a copy of that document and return the original document to the person who provided it.

(2) In respect of any application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act, the registration officer must retain until the application has been determined—

(a) the application form or, in the case of an application made through the digital service, the information contained in the application;

(b) any other information or documents provided to the registration officer in connection with the application or, in the case of original documents which are returned under paragraph (1), a copy of such documents.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the registration officer may retain the application form, information and documents in paragraph (2) after the application has been determined but, if they do so, must delete the applicant’s national insurance number from the application form, information and documents in paragraph (2) by no later than the date which is 13 months from the date on which the registration officer determined the application under section 10ZC or 10ZD.

(4) The requirement to delete the national insurance number in paragraph (3) does not apply where the application, information and documents in paragraph (2) are required for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings.

(5) Information disclosed under regulation 29ZA may not be disclosed to any other person, except—

(a) for the purpose of determining the application in connection with which the information was disclosed; or

(b) for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings.

(6) A person who discloses information in breach of paragraph (5) is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

(7) Any person who discloses information under regulation 29ZA must process it in accordance with any requirements as to the processing of information that may have been imposed by the [F2 Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities] in writing, including requirements as to the transfer, storage, destruction and security of that information.

(8) Any requirements, in accordance with which a person must process information, must be imposed by the [F3 Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities] before a registration officer is required to disclose that information under regulation 29ZA(1).

(9) “Copy” in this regulation includes an electronic copy.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Regs. 29ZA, 29ZB inserted (10.6.2014) by The Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Description of Electoral Registers and Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3198), regs. 1(5)(b), 14

F2 Words in reg. 29ZB(7) substituted (8.12.2021) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 28(6) (with art. 12)

F3 Words in reg. 29ZB(8) substituted (8.12.2021) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 28(6) (with art. 12)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Regs. 29ZA, 29ZB: transfer of functions (8.12.2021) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1265), arts. 1(2), 7(3)(a) (with arts. 8, 11, 12)