Electoral Administration Bill

I speak as someone who some years ago discovered that the electoral register was for sale. This was before the opt-out was possible. I was rather shocked by the discovery that the complete electoral register was available on the internet. However, it is now possible to opt out of the edited register, which is the one that is available to most commercial bodies. I have opted out. In those circumstances, I cannot see any great hardship in those people who have chosen not to elect out having their names and addresses available for commercial uses. After all, electing out means no more than putting one tick in a small box on the registration form. Perhaps it should be an opportunity for the Government to make a little money by selling it at more than cost price. But we must also recognise that people who do not wish to be cold-called on the telephone have access to the DPS. In those circumstances, while I certainly cannot say that I would feel any particular regret or sorrow if the register was not available to commercial organisations, the fact that it is seems to be harmless.