---

Electoral Administration Bill

moved Amendment No. 12:"Page 2, line 15, leave out ““be”” and insert ““hold office within””" The noble Lord said: This amendment touches on the same ground as Amendments Nos. 3 and 6, which we have already debated. However, whereas those amendments dealt with the nature of the CORE scheme, this amendment seeks to clarify who exactly will be in charge of the scheme. I think that we referred to this in earlier discussions. Clause 1(10) states:"““The person designated as a CORE keeper must be a public authority””." The subsection seems to describe a public body as a person—a point made earlier by my noble friend Lady Hanham. I find myself somewhat confused. Do Her Majesty’s Government intend that the CORE schemes should be run by a specifically set-up public body or a specifically appointed person within a public body? Will the Secretary of State have the power simply to appoint the CORE keeper of his choice? Having read the consultation paper, I have a feeling that the role of the CORE keeper will automatically be given to the Electoral Commission—we will come to the viability of that when we reach the Question whether Clause 4 should stand part of the Bill. In the mean time, perhaps the Minister will enlighten us as to whether the CORE will be run by a public body or an individual. If it is run by a public body, will there be a competitive appointment procedure? I beg to move.