§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ballot papers were rejected for want of an official mark in the 1992 general election. [907]
§ Mr. KirkhopeSome 2,593 ballot papers were rejected for want of an official mark in the 1992 general election. Statistics concerning the outcome of the 1992 general election, including information on the number of ballot papers rejected on these grounds, are published in the HMSO booklet "Election Expenses".
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many election petitions have been applied for in respect of local government, parliamentary and Euro-elections since 1970. [911]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe number of election petitions applied for in respect of local government and parliamentary elections since 1970 is 80 and six, respectively; the comparable figure for European parliamentary elections since 1979 when those elections first took place is three.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he took in response to the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee in the 1982–83 Session that the requirement to stamp the ballot paper with an official mark be ended; and if he will make a statement. [906]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe Government considered carefully the recommendation by the Home Affairs Select Committee but decided that the official mark should be retained. The Government concluded that the official mark provided a continuing safeguard against the introduction into the ballot of counterfeit or illegally acquired ballot papers. The Government's full response to the recommendations is available in "The Government Reply to the First Report from the Home Affairs Committee Session 1982–83 HC32–1".