§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the amount of expenses incurred in local government elections submitted by the chief electoral officer to each local authority is available for inspection by individual district councillors.
§ Mr. PriorI understand that accounts kept by a district council clerk in the capacity of deputy returning officer in relation to elections to the council are the chief electoral officer's accounts and not those of the district council. District councillors who belong to a council committee concerned with finance would be entitled to see the election accounts at the time when they are submitted for payment. Other individual councillors are only entitled to inspect documents in the possession of a council if it is necessary for them to do so in order properly to perform their duties as members of the council.