§ Mr. TrimbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any representations have been made, directly or indirectly, through the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference or otherwise, to Her Majesty's Government or the Boundary Commissioner by the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the proposal to transfer the ward of Rathfriland from Newry and Mourne district council to Banbridge district council.
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 2 June 1992]: Responsibility for reviewing local government boundaries and wards rests entirely with the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner who is independent of Government. At the inter-governmental conference meeting in November 1991 both Governments took note of the Commissioner's independence in drawing up his recommendations. At no time during the current review have representations been made by either the United Kingdom or the Irish Government, directly or indirectly, to the Commissioner about the Rathfriland ward.