A KEY independent recommendation to combat postal voting fraud was rejected by the Government yesterday because of fears that turnout would slump.

Ministers threw out the Electoral Commission's call for all voters to register individually after claiming it triggered a ten per cent fall in the size of the electoral roll in Northern Ireland.

Instead, households will continue to receive a single registration form through the post, although each voter will be required to sign it separately and give their date of birth.

Lord Falconer, the Constitutional Affairs Secretary, said the use of "individual identifiers" would provide the necessary security.

Up to 25 police inquiries have been launched into allegations of fraud and administrative errors during the election campaign.

The Conservatives said it was "astonishing" that ministers were again ignoring the advice of the body they set up to foster confidence in the voting system.

And the Commission itself said it would try to persuade the Government to opt for individual registration during consultation.

Now the Electoral Administration Bill, to be included in Tuesday's Queen's Speech, puts forward 11 measures, l including:

* A new offence of fraudulently applying for a postal vote, carrying a maximum five year jail term.

* Banning political parties from collecting completed application forms.

* Putting barcodes and water marks on postal ballots, to more easily detect fraudulent votes.

* Collecting each voters' signatures and dates of birth at registration to verify postal ballot papers.

Rejecting individual registration, Lord Falconer said: "There has got to be a balance struck between access to voting on the one hand and adequate security on the other."