To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what role (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department played in the negotiation of the contracts with private companies to carry out the printing, collating and distribution of postal ballot papers for the elections in Scotland on 3 May. (136136)

[holding answer 8 May 2007]: The responsibility for handling postal ballot papers rests with Returning Officers. The printing of postal ballot papers formed part of the contract to deliver an electronic counting service. This contract was negotiated through an electronic counting project board, consisting of representatives of Returning Officers, Scottish Executive and Scotland Office officials, and DRS. Decisions relating to the e-counting contract with DRS were taken by the electronic counting project board. The collation and distribution of postal ballot papers for the elections were handled through separate, individual, contracts between the Returning Officer and their suppliers.