§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a boundary commissioner will be appointed for the purpose of forming district electoral areas; and what is the timetable for his reports.
§ Mr. HanleyMy right hon. Friend has today appointed Dr. Maurice Hayes as district electoral areas commissioner to report on the grouping of local government wards in district council areas for local elections. The commissioner is an independent officer and it will be for him to decide his precise timetable; but the submission of the commissioner's report will be in time to enable my 113W right hon. Friend to lay before Parliament a draft Order in Council making provision for electoral areas prior to the general local elections to be held in May 1993.