After years of ducking the question Government has finally made a decision about the future of the edited electoral register. The roll will not be abolished.

A recommendation by the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee to abolish the edited electoral register has received a lukewarm response from Government; it is considering the finely balanced arguments.

The House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee has no doubt about it: the edited electoral register should be abolished.

Government has today published a consultation paper on the future of the Edited Electoral Register. Six options are being considered for the future of the register.

A survey by the Local Government Association shows that an overwhelming majority of elections officers support a ban on the sale of the Edited Electoral Register.

Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has recommended abolishing the Edited Electoral Register. If accepted, local councils will no longer be legally obliged to sell voters' name and address to junk mailers.

The number of people opted-out of having their name and address included on the Edited Electoral Register has decreased by nearly three per cent. About 40% of voters are now marked as 'opted out'.