§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost or estimated cost of the border poll.
§ Mr. David HowellThis information will not be available until returning officers have given further details about their claims for fees and expenses. I will write to my hon. Friend when this is done.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why it was decided that the envelopes used for postal votes in the border poll should be clearly identifiable as such.
§ Mr. Peter MillsEnvelopes in which postal vote application forms were sent to electors bore no distinguishing marks. Envelopes used for the issue of postal ballot papers were marked to indicate that they contained ballot papers, and provision was made for them to be returned to the issuing office if they were not delivered. This was a precaution to prevent ballot papers going astray. Envelopes for the return of ballot papers were in any case identifiable, since they bore the address of the returning officer.