Statement of Persons Nominated

I write on behalf of the freedom of information officer to acknowledge
receipt of your freedom of information request concerning statements of
persons nominated for Fareham for previous Parliamentary elections.

I would advise you that this request is currently being investigated and
I will endeavour to provide you with a full response within 20 working
days. Your reference number is 39/2010.

If I am unable to do so, I will contact you again to advise of a date
when I will be able to provide you with the information requested, or
the reason why I am unable to provide it.

Catherine Betteridge
PA to the Directors, Chief Executive's Department
Fareham Borough Council
01329 236100 ext 2311
[email address]

You wrote

"Please provide the following information in electronic form
(either
as a text file or a hyper-link) :

1) The Statement of Persons Nominated for the constituency of
Fareham for the Parliamentary Election held on 1st May 1997
2) The Statement of Persons Nominated for the constituency of
Fareham for the Parliamentary Election held on 7th June 2001
3) The Statement of Persons Nominated for the constituency of
Fareham for the Parliamentary Election held on 5th May 2005

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

David Watson"

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Dear Mr Watson, I refer to your request for information relating to past
elections.

Before responding to the request, I need to explain the position of the
Returning Officer in law. Whilst the Secretary of State has appointed
an officer of the Council in accordance with the Representation of the
People Acts as the Acting Returning Officer for Parliamentary elections,
the responsibilities and duties of the post are personal to him. Thus,
the Acting Returning Officer does not carry out the duties on behalf of
the local authority, but in his own personal capacity.

Turning to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act, I would point out that the Act does not include any person
appointed under the Representation of the People Act among those public
bodies and local authorities that are subject to the Act's provisions.
It follows therefore that the (Acting) Returning Officer, the Electoral
Registration Officer or any other person appointed under the
Representation of the People Act is not subject to the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act. Notwithstanding that there is no statutory
obligation to provide the information you request, the Acting Returning
Officer is generally prepared to provide information where it is readily
available.

Election documents are destroyed after 12 months, although copies of the
statement of persons nominated / notice of poll for 2001 and 2005 can be
reproduced. I cannot provide a copy for 1997, but could provide the
names of candidates for that year if that will help. I attach two files
showing the statements for 2001 and 2005.

Barbara McGrath
Information Officer
Fareham Borough Council
www.fareham.gov.uk
01329 824529

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