• IT is that time of year when we have to return our electoral register forms to the Electoral Registration Office in the Town Hall.

I have a problem with this because the form requires me to give Camden Council my National Insurance number.

Now I understand that His Majesty’s Government would have an interest in my NI number, as would any employer; but I am not sure why I am telling Camden again when they already have it for my housing arrangements.

The real difficulty comes when I have sealed the envelope and I see that it is going to an address in Warrington. So am I to understand that Camden Council has a far-flung outpost in Warrington or, more prosaically, that they have given a contract to a provider to deal with the electoral forms?

If it is the latter then I will have to refrain from giving my number. After all who knows what will happen to it?

CHRISTOPHER MASON
Malden Crescent, NW1