Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001

[F1Verification of information provided in an applicationS

29ZA.(1) On receipt of an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act made [F2otherwise than through the digital service], a registration officer must disclose the name or names, date of birth and national insurance number given under regulation [F326 or 26A] to the [F4Minister for the Cabinet Office] in such a format and through such a conduit system as the [F5Minister for the Cabinet Office] may have notified to the registration officer in writing.

(2) Following receipt of the information from the registration officer or (in the case of an application made through the digital service) from the applicant, the [F6Minister for the Cabinet Office] may disclose the information to the Secretary of State.

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

(a)the name, date of birth and national insurance number of individuals appearing in the following types of databases kept by the Secretary of State—

(i)databases kept for the purposes of functions relating to social security (including such information kept on behalf of the Department for Social Development); 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 those databases which relates to the information disclosed under paragraph (2).

(4) The Secretary of State may disclose the results of the comparison to the [F7Minister for the Cabinet Office].

(5) On receipt of such results, the [F7Minister for the Cabinet Office] may disclose them to the registration officer in whose register the applicant has applied to be registered.

(6) Where the [F7Minister for the Cabinet Office] does so, the registration officer must take the results into account in determining the application.

[F8(6A) In relation to the registration of local government electors, this regulation does not apply to an application made by a person under the age of 16.]

(7) In this regulation—

(a)“conduit system” has the same meaning as in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Telecommunications Act 1984;

(b)“the Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions.]