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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

I take the hon. Gentleman’s point, but I ask him to look again at proposed new subsection (2) in clause 3, which states: "““A canvass under section 10(1A) must””—" I emphasise the word ““must””— "““be conducted in an intervening year””" if a recommendation has been made by the chief electoral officer. The canvass will be conducted in "““the year 2010, unless the Secretary of State makes an order””," and a "““canvass under section 10(1A) must be conducted . . . unless the Secretary of State makes an order””." The Secretary of State will make an order only if the recommendation is forthcoming from the chief electoral officer. I put to hon. Members the fact that the onus and responsibility lie with the chief electoral officer, who has duties under later clauses to ensure the integrity of the register. If he feels that the register is not truly correct and is failing, he has the power and duty to ask the Secretary of state to continue with the canvass. The proposal to fix an interim canvass is unnecessary, because we have 2010 fixed, and we have the potential for an interim canvass if required and for the chief electoral officer to bring it forward.