To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will describe the pricing structures surrounding (a) the sale of information from the electoral register and (b) the community charges register, and give the reasons why it was decided to use different pricing structures.

Certain persons may obtain a limited number of copies of the electoral register free of charge. Additional copies for such persons, or copies for a returning officer or a local authority are provided at a charge of 25p per thousand entries. In all other cases the fee is £2·50 per thousand entries. There is no provision for the sale of the community charge register.