Representation of the People (National Assembly for Wales) (Access to Election Documents) Regulations 2007

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for her exposition of the regulations, which was very clear and to the point. We regardthe regulations very much as good housekeeping, inasmuch as they lay down the same standards for Assembly elections as there are for parliamentary elections, and quite right too. The fact that they will be made available under certain conditions is also welcome, and I mirror what the noble Lord, Lords Roberts of Conwy, said about security. It is particularly important that these documents can now be located at a local level where registration officers will have responsibility. Perhaps I may lighten this debate slightly: I havea particular interest in some of these documents because, if I had been a football team, I would have had seven contests, lost two deposits, gained a third and a second place, and would have had three wins. Possibly more importantly, I have had eight recounts, which includes almost every possible type; namely, recounts as to whether I should lose my deposit, whether I was third or second, and whether or not I had won the election. They add up to eight recounts, which can be checked on the record. I note that the Explanatory Memorandum refers to: "““Statements of rejected ballot papers””," some of which of course are spoilt. When I was working in Scotland for a brief period, I contestedmy first election for Perth and East Perthshire when 62 ballot papers were spoilt because people wrote on them that they wanted to vote for Enoch Powell. When the returning officer asked Ian MacArthur, the elected Conservative Member, what should be done with the rejected ballot papers, he said, ““Send them down to Wolverhampton”” where Enoch Powell was the MP. It is right that they should be kept in secure places and be available because their historical content is very interesting.