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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

The criteria for anonymous registration and the way in which that will be implemented will be a matter for consultation. A register will be published annually, as is set out in other clauses in the Bill. The proposal in the Bill is that the canvass will be held every 10 years. The two matters are entirely separate, so I am sorry if I confused the hon. Gentleman. The criteria for who should be anonymously registered, the conditions for their registration, the way in which the registration should be applied, and how the scheme will work will be subject to the consultation that I intend to issue as soon as possible, after considering the results of the consultation on the DCA Bill before the House—and, I hope, with hon. Members’ support today for the principle.