§ Mr. Watsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what will be the arrangements for district council elections in Northern Ireland in 1985.
§ Mr. PriorUnder article 4(1) of the Northern Ireland (Local Elections) Order 1977, district council elections in Northern Ireland are held according to the principle of proportional representation, each elector having one transferable vote. The local government boundaries 497W commissioner is currently carrying out a review of the number, boundaries and names of local government districts in Northern Ireland and the number, boundaries and names of the wards into which each district is divided. I shall be bringing proposals before Parliament which will provide the means by which the wards recommended by the commissioner shall be subsequently grouped into district electoral areas for the purpose of elections and which will establish procedures so that interested parties may make representations on the proposed groupings of wards.