The Representation of the People (Electronic Communications and Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2018

Verification of information provided in an application

20.  After regulation 42 (provision of information to the registration officer) insert—

“Verification of information provided in an application

42A.— (1) In the case of an application for registration submitted through the UK digital service, the Minister of the Crown responsible for providing the UK digital service(1) may disclose the name and any previous name, date of birth and national insurance number of the applicant given in the application to the Secretary of State.

(2) On receipt of an application for registration other than one submitted through the UK digital service, the registration officer may disclose the name and any previous name, date of birth and national insurance number of the applicant given in the application to the Secretary of State through the UK digital service.

(3) Where information has been disclosed to the Secretary of State under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary of State shall compare the information against—

(a) the name and any previous name, date of birth and national insurance number of individuals appearing in the following types of databases kept by the Department for Work and Pensions—

(i) databases kept for the purposes of functions relating to social security (including such information kept on behalf of the Department for Communities); and

(ii) databases relating to working tax credit, child tax credit and child benefit (being information kept on behalf of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs); and

(b) any other information contained in the databases mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) which relates to the information disclosed under paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) The Secretary of State shall disclose the results of the comparison to the registration officer through the UK digital service, and regulation 41(5) and (7) shall be disregarded for these purposes.

(5) The registration officer may take such results into account in determining the application for registration.

(6) Any person who processes the information disclosed under paragraph (1) or (2) shall do so in accordance with any requirements as to the processing of information that may have been imposed in writing by the Minister of the Crown responsible for providing the UK digital service, including requirements as to the transfer, storage, destruction and security of that information.

(7) In this regulation, “the Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.”

(1)

The Minister of the Crown responsible for providing the UK digital service is the Minister for the Cabinet Office. See article 7 of S.I. 2016/997 and regulation 2(3) of these Regulations.