§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the powers of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland to arrange to have potential electors in residential homes excluded from the Register of Electors for 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe statutory powers and duties of[...] chief electoral officer in respect of the compilation of the electoral register are contained in the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended and as applied by 16W schedule 1 to the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, and in subordinate legislation made under that Act. Under sections 1(1), 2(1) and 12 of the Act a person who is subject to a legal incapacity to vote may not be registered.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents are registered in residential homes in east Antrim; and how many of those residents have been excluded from the 1992 electoral register.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI understand from the chief electoral officer that this information is not available.