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

[F1Supply of free copy of full register etc to Office for National Statistics and restrictions on useE+W

99.(1) Each registration officer shall supply, free of charge and on publication, one copy of—

(a)any revised version of the register published under section 13(1) or (3) of the 1983 Act,

(b)any notice setting out an alteration to the register published under section 13A(2) or 13B(3) of that Act, and

(c)any list of overseas electors,

to the Office for National Statistics (in this regulation referred to as “the Office”).

(2) In paragraph (1) the duty to supply is a duty to supply in data form unless, prior to publication, the Office has requested in writing a printed copy instead.

(3) [F2Subject to paragraph (6)] no person employed by the Office may—

(a)supply a copy of the full register other than to another such person;

(b)disclose any information contained in it (that is not contained in the edited register) otherwise than in accordance with paragraph (4) below; or

(c)make use of any such information other than for statistical purposes.

(4) [F3Subject to paragraph (6)] no information which is contained in the full register and not in the edited register may be disclosed otherwise than—

(a)by allowing a person using the premises of the Office to inspect it under supervision, and

(b)by publishing information about electors which does not include the name or address of any elector.

[F4(4A) Where a copy of the full register is made available by providing the register on a computer screen or otherwise in data form, the Office shall ensure that the manner in, and equipment on, which that copy is provided do not permit any person consulting that copy to—

(a)search it by electronic means by reference to the name of any person; or

(b)copy or transmit any part of that copy by electronic means.]

(5) A person who inspects the full register [F5, whether a printed copy or in data form,] may not—

(a)make copies of any part of it, or

(b)record any particulars included in it,

otherwise than by means of hand-written notes.]

[F6(6) A person employed by the Office is not prohibited from supplying a copy of, or disclosing information contained in, a version of the full register where—

(a)more than ten years have expired since that version of the register was first published in accordance with regulation 43; and

(b)the supply or disclosure is for research purposes in compliance with the relevant conditions.

(7) No person who obtains a copy of the full register or to whom information contained in it that is not contained in the edited register is disclosed under the circumstances described in paragraph (6) may—

(a)supply a copy of it,

(b)disclose any such information, or

(c)make use of any such information,

otherwise than for research purposes in compliance with the relevant conditions.]