Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to use the powers that would be granted to them under clause 49 ('Power to obtain election-related information etc) of the Representation of the People Bill 2026; and whether they intend for these powers to include the creation of an authoritative central repository of election results.

Returning Officers are responsible for publishing election results in their local areas and the Government has no current plans to introduce a uniform approach to the publication of local election results by local authorities.

The intention of the power is to improve the availability and consistency of election related information. The Government is working with the Electoral Commission to consider how this power can best support practical improvements to elector-facing information.