HC Deb 09 March 1978 vol 945 cc1590-2
7. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what conclusions he draws from the high level of votes cast by postal vote in the Mid-Ulster and the Fermanagh and South Tyrone parliamentary constituencies at the last General Election; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Carter

I accept that the figures for postal voting in these two constituencies are abnormally high, but after consulting the Chief Electoral Officer I am satisfied that the rules on applications for postal votes are applied as rigorously in these two constituencies as they are elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Adley

Is it not a fact that the average number of votes cast by postal vote throughout the United Kingdom is under 3 per cent, and that the figure for Fermanagh and South Tyrone is over 14 per cent., and that the hon. Member's majority there is 4 per cent. and that this can sometimes have a decisive effect on a close vote in the House, such as that which took place on 8th November 1976?

Will the Minister invite the electoral officer, prior to polling at the next election, to have a particularly close check on the postal voting situation, perhaps taking random checks on the medical side of the postal vote applications?

Mr. Carter

It is always possible that all the postal votes went to the loser in the election rather than to my hon. Friend, but I am afraid that we do not know, because records have since been destroyed. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] They always are. I would not have thought that that was any great news to anybody. If the hon. Member has any evidence to suggest that there was anything irregular in this case perhaps he will forward it to me.

Mr. Fitt

As one of the constituencies is represented by a Unionist and the other by a non-Unionist, is the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) implying that each hon. Member was guilty of misconduct during the course of the election?

Mr. Carter

I did the hon. Member the credit of simply seeking hard evidence, which the hon. Member does not appear to have found up to now.

Mr. Powell

On the basis of the Minister's reply, and as overwhelmingly these postal votes are based on physical inability to go to the polls, do the Government intend to institute an investigation into the reasons for the catastrophically lower level of health in these two counties as compared with the rest of the Province? What steps should be taken to remedy it?

Mr. Carter

That is probably the right avenue down which to march, but the right hon. Gentleman is, as always, more careful than others in seeking out these powers. If there is some hard evidence to explain why these figures are higher than those anywhere else, we are only too pleased and willing to look at them.

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