§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what forms he holds information on the numbers of postal, proxy and expatriate votes issued and used during the 1987 and 1992 general elections.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonReturning officers in Scotland are at present sending information to my right hon. Friend about the numbers of postal votes issued and used during the 1992 general election for eventual publication as part of a House of Commons paper. The information for the 1987 general election is contained in tables 3 and 5 of House of Commons Paper No. 426 of 20 April 1988 "Election Expenses".
In this context, it is not possible to distinguish between postal votes and postal proxy votes which may have been used by overseas voters.