Amendment Paper as at
Thursday 20th January 2000
CONSIDERATION OF BILL
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL, AS AMENDED
Clause No. 6 (Notional residence: declarations of local connection).
30
Amendment (No. 30) proposed in page 8, line 43 at end to insert the words—
'(5A) Where the declarant falls into the category of person mentioned in subsection 2(c) above, the declaration of local connection must state that the declarant has spent a substantial part of his time (whether during the day or at night) in the parliamentary constituency (or, if the declaration is made for the purpose of local government elections only under the provisions of subsection (6) below, the local government electoral area) during the whole of the period of three months ending on the date of the declaration.'—(Mr Nigel Evans).
Question proposed, That the Amendment be made.
Mr William Ross
47
Page 8 [Clause 6], leave out from beginning of line 44 to 'such' in line 46.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
9
Page 9, line 20 [Clause 6], at end insert—
'(10) When an address given in a declaration of local connection is owned or occupied by a person, persons, business or organisation, permission must be obtained from from such person, persons, business or organisation for that address to be used in the declaration.'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
31
Page 9, line 20 [Clause 6], at end insert—
'(10) When a declaration of local connection is received by the registration officer, he shall make enquiries in order to satisfy himself that the declarant falls within the categories of person listed in subsection (2) above, and no declarant shall be entered on the register until the registration officer is so satisfied.'.
Mr David Maclean
Mr Eric Forth
18
Page 11, line 16 [Clause 9], at end insert 'personal'.
Mr David Maclean
Mr Eric Forth
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
19
Page 11, line 18 [Clause 9], after 'such', insert 'personal'.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
10
Page 11, line 39 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(1A) No local authority shall submit a scheme to the Secretary of State unless it can demonstrate support from a majority of voters in the relevant area.'.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
11
Page 11, line 39 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(1B) No local authority shall submit a scheme to the Secretary of State unless the scheme has been approved by a meeting of the authority, with at least two thirds of the members present and voting being in favour of submitting the scheme to the Secretary of State.'.
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
Mr James Wallace
Mr Andrew George
Mr Paul Burstow
37
Page 11, line 39 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(1A) The Secretary of State shall not make any order under subsection (1) unless the relevant local authority lodges a declaration that adequate consultation has been carried out as certified by the Electoral Commission or such person appointed by the Secretary of State for this purpose.
(1B) The Electoral Commission or such person appointed by the Secretary of State shall have the duty of declaring when adequate local consultation on any pilot scheme has been carried out, and shall do so before any such scheme is submitted to the Secretary of State.'.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
23
Page 12, line 4 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(2A) Any such scheme must include appropriate mechanisms and procedures to guarantee the security of voting in and amongst all locations.'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
28
Page 12, line 4 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(2A) Where a scheme makes provision for voting to take place on more than one day, any order under subsection (1) above shall include provisions that prohibit the publication of such material as may be specified that indicates or purports to indicate the way in which two or more persons voting prior to the day of the poll (or, if more than one day is designated as a day of the poll, to the last day so designated) have cast their votes.'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
29
Page 12, line 4 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(2B) No scheme which makes provision for voting to take place on more than one day and which makes provision for voting to take place on either Saturday or Sunday shall be submitted to or approved by the Secretary of State unless it makes provision for voting to take place on both days.'.
Mr David Maclean
Mr Eric Forth
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
21
Page 12, line 37 [Clause 10], at end insert—
'(e) the choice of polling day or days was seen as offensive by religious or other groups; and
(f) the choice of polling day or days led to any prejudice of the votes cast by certain groups.'.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
Mr William Ross
26
Page 13, line 10 leave out Clause 11.
Mr William Ross
48
Page 13, line 13 [Clause 11], leave out 'and on a permanent basis'.
Mr William Ross
49
Page 13 [Clause 11], leave out line 19.
Mr William Ross
50
Page 13 [Clause 11], leave out lines 20 and 21.
Mr William Ross
51
Page 13, line 27, [Clause 11], leave out ', or (as the case may be) district electoral area,'.
Mr William Ross
53
Page 13 [Clause 11], leave out line 44.
Mr William Ross
54
Page 14 [Clause 11], leave out line 1.
Mr William Ross
55
Page 14 [Clause 11], leave out line 4.
Mr William Ross
56
Page 14 [Clause 11], leave out line 6.
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
Mr James Wallace
Mr Andrew George
Mr Paul Burstow
38
Page 16, line 14 [Clause 13], at end insert—
'(6) The returning officer shall only designate as polling stations those locations which have been approved more than three months before polling day as suitable for people with disabilities by the person or organisation so nominated by the Secretary of State.
(7) The Secretary of State shall appoint annually a person or organisation to approve the suitability of polling stations for disabled people.'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
34
Page 17, line 4 [Clause 16], leave out '11'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
35
Page 17, line 7 [Clause 16], after 'purposes,' insert '; except that section 11 shall not come into force before 1 January 2003.'.
Mr William Ross
44
Page 19, line 20 [Schedule 1], leave out '15th October' and insert '10th September'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
33
Page 19 [Schedule 1], leave out lines 45 to 50 and insert—
'(7) Each registration officer may, as he thinks fit, conduct an enquiry or canvass in relation to part or all of an electoral register at any time, notwithstanding sub-section (1) of this section.'.
Miss Ann Widdecombe
Mr John Greenway
Mr Nigel Evans
32
Page 19, line 50 [Schedule 1], at end insert—
'(8) Each registration officer shall each month, or seven days before any poll, contact all registrars of births, deaths and marriages covering the area for which he is responsible, in order to ascertain the names and addresses of those persons deceased within the previous month, and shall remove such deceased persons from the register within three working days of ascertaining this information.'.
Mr Eric Forth
Mr David Maclean
27
Page 20, line 35 [Schedule 1], at end insert—
'(5A) It shall be the responsibility of the registration officer to take whatever measures he deems necessary and reasonable to verify a declaration of local connection made under section 7B of this Act.'.
Mr William Ross
45
Page 20, line 44 [Schedule 1], leave out 'December' and insert 'November'.
Mr Harry Barnes
39
Page 22, line 22 [Schedule 1], at end insert ', unless it is made as a result of a notice issued pursuant to subsection (1)(e) above'.
Mr Harry Barnes
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
40
Page 34, line 48 [Schedule 4], after first 'of', insert 'his attendance at an educational establishment, or'.
Mr Harry Barnes
41
Page 34, line 51 [Schedule 4], at end insert 'or
(ii) a journey over land of three miles or more'.
Mr Hary Barnes
Mr Simon Hughes
Mr Robert Maclennan
Mr Richard Livsey
42
Page 36, line 1 [Schedule 4], at end insert—
'(2A) Where an application is granted under sub-paragraph (1) or (2), it shall be deemed to be an application to vote at all elections held on that day'.
Mr Harry Barnes
43
Page 36, line 2 [Schedule 4], leave out 'or (2)' and insert ', (2) or (2A)'.
