The Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006

Provision for supply of full register to public libraries and local authority archives services, and restrictions on use

21.  After regulation 109 of the 2001 Regulations insert—

“Supply of full register to public libraries and local authority archives service, and restrictions on use

109A.— (1) A public library or a local authority archives service may request the registration officer to supply free of charge the relevant part (within the meaning of paragraph (2)) of any of the following—

(a) a 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;

(c) a list of overseas electors.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is so much of them as a public library or local authority archives service has been given responsibility for keeping by a library authority or local authority respectively.

(3) Such a request shall be made in writing and shall—

(a) specify the documents requested;

(b) state whether the request is made only in respect of the current documents or whether it includes a request for the supply of any subsequent document on publication; and

(c) state whether a printed copy of any of the documents is requested instead of the version in data form.

(4) Unless a request has been made in advance of supply under paragraph (3)(c), the copy of a document supplied under this regulation shall be in data form.

(5) The registration officer shall supply the relevant part of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) in accordance with a request that has been duly made.

(6) Subject to paragraph (9), no person employed by the public library or the local authority archives service may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register other than to another such person or to a person using the library or the archives service to inspect it under supervision;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (that is not contained in the edited register) otherwise than by allowing a person using the library or the archives service to inspect it under supervision; or

(c) make use of any such information.

(7) Where a copy of the full register is made available for inspection in accordance with paragraph (6)(a) or (b) by providing the register on a computer screen or otherwise in data form, the library or the archives service 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.

(8) A person who inspects a copy of the full register, whether a printed copy or in data form, may not—

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

(b) record any particulars in it,

otherwise than by means of hand-written notes.

(9) The public library or local authority archives service 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.

(10) 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 (9) may—

(a) supply a copy of it,

(b) disclose such information, or

(c) make use of any such information,

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

(11) In this regulation—

“library authority” has the same meaning as in section 206 of the Local Government Act 1972(1) and section 4 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964(2);

“local authority archives service” means an archives service established by—

(a)

a county council,

(b)

a county borough council,

(c)

a district council,

(d)

a London Borough council,

(e)

the Common Council of the City of London, or

(f)

the Council of the Isles of Scilly,

in exercise of its functions under the Local Government (Records) Act 1962(3);

“public library” means a library maintained by a library authority.”

(1)

1972 c. 70, section 206 was amended by Schedule 17 to the Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51).

(2)

1964 c. 75, section 4 was amended by Schedule 30 to the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) and section 66 of, and Schedules 16 and 18 to, the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19).

(3)

1962 c. 56, section 2 was amended by section 93 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Local Government Act 1963 (c. 33), section 16 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51), section 66 of, and Schedule 16 to, the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 (c. 19), S.I. 1986/148 and S.I. 1990/1765.