HL Deb 19 December 1983 vol 446 cc574-5WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many tendered ballot papers were issued at the last general election in:

  1. (i) England;
    2. 575
  2. (ii)Wales;
  3. (iii)Scotland; and
  4. (iv)Northern Ireland;
their proportion as a percentage of:
  1. (i)the electorate; and
  2. (ii)the number of votes cast;
respectively in each of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom; and whether they regard any variation in the figures as being significant.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)

Information on the number of tendered ballot papers issued in England, Wales and Scotland at the 1983 general election could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I understand from the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland that 949 tendered ballot papers were issued in Northern Ireland. This represents 0.09 per cent. of persons registered as electors and 0.12 per cent. of the number of valid votes included in the count.