Guidance to the ICO

Dear Sir or Madam,

Due to the very large number of council's that appear to have
neglected to appoint either an electoral registration officer or a
returning officer. Has the Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State and
their Department entered into correspondence with the Information
Commissioner identifying that Council's as part of their
publication scheme should be required to identify and advertise
their failure to appoint individuals to these positions so that the
electorate are able to challenge any appointment that these
authorities might support through the electoral process. Copies of
this correspondence is requested.

Further has the Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State and their
Department identified to members of Parliament the questionability
of their election due to the failures of the members of the local
associations that run Council's.

You have identified through OPR/042/005/2057 that no member of
Parliament has brought the failure of their local association's to
the attention of your Department. However, it is documented that a
significant number of council's are in no position to return an MP
to Parliament. Could you identify if it is the intention of the
Minister and their Department to bring the matter to the attention
of the government - so that they can inform the Crown (copies of
all correspondence is requested).

Yours faithfully,

Stuart Hardwicke CARRUTHERS