UK Parliament / Open data

Wales Bill

Proceeding contribution from Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 11 November 2014. It occurred during Debate on bills on Wales Bill.

Moved by

Lord Roberts of Llandudno

13: After Clause 5, insert the following new Clause—

“Part 1A

Voter registration

Power of Secretary of State to make regulations for data sharing

(1) The Secretary of State shall by regulations impose a duty on government bodies requiring those bodies to provide specified information to registration officers in Wales for the purposes of electoral registration.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) must include as government bodies the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Passport Office and the National Health Service.

(3) Regulations made under subsection (1) shall include the provision of data collected by specified government bodies by virtue of specified applications, which must include applications for new or renewed driving licences, Disability Living Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, new or renewed passports, and to register with a GP (as applicable to the specified government body).

(4) Registration officers shall use the specified information received in relation to a person—

(a) if the specified information received contains all of the information required, to register that person on the appropriate electoral register or registers; or

(b) if the specified information does not contain all of the information required, to make further enquiries of that person to receive the information required to register that person on the appropriate electoral register or registers.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section shall give any government body the power to share any information about a person without that person’s consent.

(6) In this section—

“electoral register or registers” means the registers in section 9 of the Representation of the People Act 1983;

“specified applications” means any applications made by a person potentially eligible to be registered to vote as are specified in regulations made under subsection (1); and

“specified government bodies” means any government bodies specified in regulations made under subsection (1).”

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

757 c209 

Session

2014-15

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber
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