Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statutory provision requires a candidate at an election in Northern Ireland to make the electoral officer aware of any efforts being made at organised personation or other corrupt practice which come to the candidate's notice.
§ Mr. CarterI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will draw to the attention of the chief electoral officer the need to investigate recent allegations of organised mass personation at the Northern Ireland local government elections in May 1977;
(2) if he will draw to the attention of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary the need to investigate recent allegations of organised mass personation at the Northern Ireland local government elections in May 1977.
§ Mr. CarterThe chief electoral officer and the Chief Constable have informed me that they investigate all allegations of personation brought to their attention. The chief electoral officer states that documents for the 1977 Northern Ireland district council elections have been destroyed in accordance with rule 67 of the local government election rules; it would therefore be difficult at this late stage to carry out an investigation into the recent allegations of organised mass personation.