Pat Ritchie
Electoral Registration and (Acting) Returning Officer
Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH
Tel: 0191 2787878 Fax: 0191 211 5149
E-mail:
www.newcastle.gov.uk
By email –
12 March 2015
Our reference: 8575
Dear Mr Pack
Freedom of Information Request – Electoral Register numbers
I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act regarding individual electoral registration. The registration of electors and the delivery of elections are governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended. Under Section 8 of the Act, the council must appoint an officer of the council to be the registration officer for any constituency or part of a constituency coterminous with or situated in the council’s area. I am the appointed officer for the registration area of Newcastle. My appointment as Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer is separate to my appointment as Chief Executive and, although appointed by the council, these duties are carried out in my personal capacity. An example of this is that the register of electors is deemed to be the property of the Electoral Registration Officer, not the local authority.
The Electoral Registration and Returning Officer does not carry out the duties on behalf of the local authority but in her own personal capacity. A list of public bodies and local authorities that are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is available at the following website:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents
As you will see, the Freedom of Information Act does not list any person appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983. It is therefore considered that the Electoral Registration Officer, Returning Officer and any other person appointed under the Act are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
Notwithstanding that there is no statutory obligation to provide this information, I would comment on your request as follows.
The total number of entries on the electoral register for use in a Parliamentary election were as of:
· February 2014 – 201,825
· December 2014 – 183,815
· January 2015 – 184,425
· February 2015 – 184,554
· March 2015 – 187,312
If you are unhappy with our response to your request you can ask for an internal review of our decision. Please send details of your request for review to the following address:
Information Governance Coordinator
Newcastle City Council
Room 17
Civic Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8QH
Phone: 0191 277 7666
Email:
If you are still unhappy with how we have handled your request following our internal review you can complain to the Information Commissioner. Contact details are as follows:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 0303 123 1113
Email:
Yours faithfully
Pat Ritchie
Electoral Registration and (Acting) Returning Officer