§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 20 United Kingdom mainland constituencies experienced the greatest fall in electorate between 1997 and 2004 in(a) numerical and (b) percentage terms, listed in descending order. [175125]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl to Chris Ruane, dated 24 May 2004:
1449WThe National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the 20 United Kingdom mainland constituencies that have experienced the greatest fall in electorate between 1997 and 2004.1 am replying in his absence. (175125)For the purposes of this question, the United Kingdom mainland excludes Northern Ireland. The effect of the introduction of a new system for registering electors in Northern Ireland is explained in an answer to an earlier Parliamentary Question on this subject (Official Report, 9 March 2004, Column 1416W).Two tables are attached. Table 1 shows the 20 constituencies that experienced the greatest decrease in parliamentary electors between 16 February 1997 and 1 December 2003, the latest date for which data are available. Table 2 shows the 20 constituencies who experienced the greatest percentage decrease in parliamentary electors over the same period.
Constituencies experiencing the greatest decrease in electorate between 1997 and 2003, Great Britain. Constituency 1997 figures 2003 figures Electorate decrease Portsmouth South 80,907 66,162 14,745 Brentford and Isleworth 79,644 67,934 11,710 Sheffield Central 68,976 58,708 10,268 Rhondda 57,487 48,332 9,155 Sheffield, Brightside 59,287 51,031 8,256 Edinburgh Central 63,969 55,714 8,255 Bradford West 72,671 64,663 8,008 Tyne Bridge 61,602 53,971 7,631 Sheffield, Heeley 67,011 59,428 7,583 Leeds Central 67,911 60,398 7,513 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 63,799 56,340 7,459 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 70,271 63,408 6,863 Paisley North 50,261 43,590 6,671 Aberdeen Central 54,548 47,903 6,645 Sunderland South 68,477 61,872 6,605 Salford 58,961 52,443 6,518 Dulwich and West Norwood 69,994 63,489 6,505 Paisley South 54,573 48,248 6,325 Halifax 72,384 66,126 6,258 Edmonton 64,184 57,988 6,196 Source: Office for National Statistics
Constituencies experiencing the greatest percentage decrease in electorate between 1997 and 2003, Great Britain. Constituency 1997 figures 2003 figures Percentage decrease Portsmouth South 80,907 66,162 18.22 Rhondda 57,487 48,332 15.93 Sheffield Central 68,976 58,708 14.89 Brentford and Isleworth 79,644 67,934 14.70 Sheffield, Brightside 59,287 51,031 13.93 Paisley North 50,261 43,590 13.27 Edinburgh Central 63,969 55,714 12.90 Tyne Bridge 61,602 53,971 12.39 Aberdeen Central 54,548 47,903 12.18 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 63.799 56,340 11.69 Paisley South 54,573 48,248 11.59 Glasgow Baillieston 51,589 45,738 11.34 Sheffield, Heeley 67,011 59,428 11.32 Cynon Valley 48,713 43,260 11.19 Leeds Central 67,911 60,398 11.06 Salford 58,961 52,443 11.05 Bradford West 72,671 64,663 11.02 Glasgow Maryhill 52,854 47,525 10.08 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 70,271 63,408 9.77 Dundee West 57,809 52,196 9.71 Source: Office for National Statistics