To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance is issued by the Electoral Commission to electoral registration officers to highlight the requirement for Commonwealth citizens to have valid leave to remain in order to legally register. (182136)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it has issued guidance advising Electoral Registration Officers that a ‘qualifying Commonwealth citizen' is either one who does not require leave to remain in the United Kingdom or is a person who both requires and holds leave to remain.

The Commission further advises Electoral Registration Officers that if there are any doubts about an applicant's eligibility in relation to immigration status, the Electoral Registration Officer has the power to require a statutory declaration of eligibility, under Regulation 24(2)(d)(ii) of the Representation of the People Regulations 2001.