§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many votes in each constituency in the 30 May elections were invalidated for lack of the official mark or perforation; what were the equivalent figures in the 1992 general election; and if he will make a statement. [32076]
§ Mr. AncramThere was a 45 per cent. drop in the number of invalidated papers at the elections on 30 May as opposed to the 1992 general election. The figures are as follows:
Constituency 1992 1996 Belfast, East Nil 36 Belfast, North Nil 3 Belfast, South Nil 38 Belfast, West 11 47 North Antrim 9 17 South Antrim 49 18 East Antrim 44 16 North Down Nil Nil South Down 80 1 East Londonderry 40 20 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Nil Nil Foyle 38 7 Lagan valley 45 Nil Mid-Ulster 9 1 Newry and Armagh 54 18 Strangford 3 4 Upper Bann 47 8 West Tyrone n/a Nil Total 429 234