To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the request was received from the Electoral Commission Inquiry to bring forward legislation to allow it to access the ballot papers from the recent Scottish Parliamentary election. (150707)

A request from Mr. Ron Gould, who is leading the Electoral Commission’s review of the Scottish elections in May, was received on 14 June 2007, for access to the electronic images of ballot papers. Following consultation with the Electoral Commission including statutory consultation on the draft order, legislation to allow access both to the electronic images and to the ballot papers themselves was introduced on 2 July, debated in both Houses on 17 July and approved by Parliament on 23 July.