To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what criteria were used by the Electoral Commission to select appropriate printers for their approved list to produce ballot papers for the local elections 2007. (135048)

Selection of a printer for the production of ballot papers is a responsibility of the relevant Returning Officer. The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not produce an approved list of printers, but its guidance manuals for Returning Officers offer advice on how to approach outsourcing of the production of ballot papers.