§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing, for each annual electoral register since 1970, an estimate of the costs to central and local government funds of compiling the electoral register.
§ Mr. AlisonThe estimated cost of compiling the register of electors is as follows:
Electoral Register Estimated cost at outturn prices Costs borne by central government Costs borne by local government £ £ £ 1970 55,100 55,100 — 1971 56,200 56,200 — 1972 66,800 66,800 — 1973 74,000 74,000 — 1974 115,600 115,600 — 1975 165,100 165,100 — 1976 210,600 210,600 — 1977 217,200 217,200 — 1978 292,100 273,900 18,200 1979 318,600 298,700 19,900 1980 352,000 330,500 21,500 The costs of stationery and printing have been included only from 1978.