§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date he proposes that the election to the Northern Ireland Assembly will be held; and how many constituencies he intends will be used for that election.
§ Mr. PriorSubject to the progress of the Northern Ireland Bill currently before Parliament, it is the Government's intention that the election to the Northern Ireland Assembly should take place on 20 October. I am today laying a draft Order in Council for that purpose before Parliament. The order will be subject to affirmative resolution in each House.
An election on 20 October would be held on the basis of the existing 12 Parliamentary constituencies.