The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008

Supply on request and specific restrictions

Supply of full register etc under regulations 102 to 107: general provisions

101.—(1) The persons or organisations falling within regulations 102 to 107 may request the registration officer to supply free of charge the relevant part (within the meaning of those regulations) 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 13BA(3),(6) or (9) of that Act;

(c) a list of overseas electors.

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

(a) specify the documents requested;

(b) subject to paragraph (5), 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 for as long as the person making the request falls within the category of person entitled to receive such copies; and

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

(3) Unless a request has been made in advance of supply under paragraph (2)(c), the copy of a document supplied under this regulation shall be in data form.

(4) 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.

(5) A person falling within regulation 106 may not make the request set out in paragraph (2)(b).

(6) A person who obtains a copy of any document under paragraph (4) may use it for any purpose for which that person would be entitled to obtain the document under this Part and any restrictions which apply under whichever of regulations 102 to 107 entitles that person to obtain the document for that purpose shall apply to such use.

Supply of full register etc to elected representatives and restrictions on use

102.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) the Member of Parliament for any constituency in Northern Ireland;

(b) each Member of the European Parliament for the electoral region of Northern Ireland;

(c) each Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and

(d) each councillor for a district electoral area in Northern Ireland.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 101(1) the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision—

(a) in the case of a Member of Parliament or of the Northern Ireland Assembly, is so much of them as relate to the constituency which he represents;

(b) in the case of a Member of the European Parliament, is the whole of them; and

(c) in the case of a councillor for a district electoral area, is so much of them as relate to that area.

(3) No person to whom this regulation applies who has been supplied with a copy of the register may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

otherwise than for purposes in connection with the office by virtue of which he is entitled to the full register or for electoral purposes.

(4) The restrictions in paragraph (3) apply to a person to whom any of the full register has been supplied or information disclosed under that paragraph as they apply to the person to whom this regulation applies.

Supply of full register etc to holders of relevant elective offices and candidates

103.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) the holder of a relevant elective office within the meaning of paragraph 1(8) of Schedule 7 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;

(b) a candidate at a parliamentary election or an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 101(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is the whole of them.

(3) No person to whom this regulation applies who has been supplied with a copy of the register may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

otherwise than for the purpose set out in paragraph (4).

(4) That purpose—

(a) in the case of a person falling within paragraph (1)(a), is complying with—

(i) the controls on donations contained in Schedule 7 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;

(ii) the controls on loans and regulated transactions in Schedule 7A to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000(1);

(b) in the case of a person falling within paragraph (1)(b), is complying with the controls on donations included in Schedule 2A to the 1983 Act(2), including that Schedule as applied for the purposes of elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly(3).

Supply of full register etc to local constituency parties and restrictions on use

104.—(1) This regulation applies to any person nominated to act for the purposes of this regulation for a particular constituency in Northern Ireland by the regional nominating officer (within the meaning of section 24 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000) of a registered political party.

(2) Not more than one person for the same constituency may be nominated under paragraph (1) in respect of the same registered political party and constituency.

(3) In the case of a person to whom this regulation applies, the relevant part of the documents listed in regulation 101(1) is so much of them as relate to the constituency in question.

(4) No person to whom this regulation applies who has been supplied with a copy of the register may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

otherwise than for electoral purposes or the purposes of electoral registration.

(5) The restrictions in paragraph (4) apply to a person to whom any of the full register has been supplied or information disclosed under that paragraph as they apply to the person to whom this regulation applies.

Supply of full register etc to registered political parties etc and restrictions on use

105.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) a registered political party other than a minor party, within the meaning of section 160(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000;

(b) a recognised third party within the meaning of section 85(5) of that Act, other than a registered political party; and

(c) a permitted participant within the meaning of section 105(1) of that Act, other than a registered political party.

(2) In the case of the parties and participants to whom this regulation applies, the relevant part of the documents listed in regulation 101(1) is the whole of them.

(3) No person employed by, or assisting (whether or not for reward) a party or participant to which this regulation applies and to which a copy of the register has been supplied may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

otherwise than for the purposes set out in paragraph (4).

(4) Those purposes are—

(a) in the case of a party falling within paragraph (1)(a) or (b)—

(i) electoral purposes; and

(ii) the purpose of complying with the controls on donations under Part 4 of or, as the case may be, Schedule 11 to, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and

(iii) the purpose of complying with the controls on loans and regulated transactions under Part 4A of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; and

(b) in the case of a permitted participant within the meaning of section 105(1) of that Act—

(i) purposes in connection with the campaign in respect of the referendum identified in the declaration made by the participant under section 106 of that Act; and

(ii) the purposes of complying with the controls on donations in Schedule 15 to that Act.

(5) The restrictions in paragraph (3) apply to a person to whom any of the full register has been supplied or information disclosed under that paragraph as they apply to persons referred to in that paragraph.

Supply of full register etc to certain candidates and restriction on use

106.—(1) This regulation applies to a candidate at—

(a) a parliamentary or European Parliamentary election in Northern Ireland;

(b) an election to the Northern Ireland Assembly; and

(c) a local election in Northern Ireland.

(2) For the purposes of regulation 101(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is so much of them as relate to the area for which the candidate is standing.

(3) No candidate to whom a copy of the register has been supplied by virtue of this regulation may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information;

other than for electoral purposes.

(4) The restrictions in paragraph (3) apply to a person to whom any of the full register has been supplied or information disclosed under that paragraph as they apply to persons referred to in that paragraph.

Supply of full register etc to police forces and restrictions on use

107.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) a police force in Great Britain;

(b) the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Reserve);

(c) the Serious Organised Crime Agency;

(d) the Police Information Technology Organisation; and

(e) any body of constables established under an Act of Parliament

(2) For the purpose of regulation 101(1), the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is the whole of them.

(3) No person serving whether as a constable, officer or employee in any of the forces and organisations to which this regulation applies may—

(a) supply a copy of the full register to any person;

(b) disclose any information contained in it (and not contained in the edited register); or

(c) make use of any such information,

otherwise than for the purpose of the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal law (whether in Northern Ireland or elsewhere).

(4) The restrictions in paragraph (3) apply to a person to whom any of the full register has been supplied or information disclosed under that paragraph as they apply to persons referred to in that paragraph.

(1)

Schedule 7A was inserted by section 61 of, and Part 6 of Schedule 1 to, the 2006 Act.

(2)

Schedule 2A was inserted by Schedule 16 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c.41).

(3)

That Schedule was so applied by Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order (S.I. 2001/2599).