12.—(1) The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008(1) are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 27A (retention of information in connection with an application for registration)(2)—
(a)in the heading, for “information in connection with an application for registration” substitute “registration information”;
(b)after paragraph (2), insert—
“(3) In respect of any relevant canvass form, until the end of the register alteration day, the registration officer—
(a)shall retain the canvass form or, in the case of a canvass form submitted through the UK digital service, the information contained in the form; and
(b)may retain any other documentation or information provided to the registration officer in connection with the submission of the form.
(4) After the register alteration day, the registration officer may continue to retain any information or document mentioned in paragraph (3) until such time as the officer considers that it is not required for or in connection with the exercise of the officer’s functions.
(5) In this regulation—
“relevant canvass form” means a canvass form completed in respect of any address in connection with a canvass under section 10 of the 1983 Act;
“register alteration day” means, in respect of a relevant canvass form, the day on which the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland has determined what alterations to the officer’s registers fall to be made as a result of the submission of that canvass form.”.
(3) In regulation 42A (verification of information provided in an application)(3)—
(a)for “an application for registration”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “a relevant application”;
(b)for paragraph (5) substitute—
“(5) The registration officer may take such results into account in determining—
(a)where the relevant application is a canvass form, what alterations to the officer’s registers fall to be made as a result of the submission of that form, and
(b)where the relevant application is an application for registration, that application.”;
(c)for paragraph (7) substitute —
“(7) In this regulation—
“relevant application” means—
an application for registration; or
canvass form completed in respect of any address in connection with a canvass under section 10 of the 1983 Act;
“the Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.”.
(4) In regulation 46B (retention of entries on the register following a canvass)(4), in paragraph (6), in the definition of “relevant period”, for “third” substitute “second”.
Regulation 27A was inserted by S.I. 2018/699.
Regulation 42A was inserted by S.I. 2018/699.
Regulation 46B was inserted by S.I. 2013/1846 and amended by S.I. 2015/1939.