Polling Stations (Hansard, 12 June 1996)

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many polling stations in East Antrim were not operable at 7 am on 30 May. [31480]

§ Mr. Ancram
All the polling stations in East Antrim were operable at 7 am on 30 May.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pencils were initially supplied to polling stations in East Antrim on 30 May. [31478]

§ Mr. Ancram
The chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland has indicated that four pencils were supplied to East Antrim polling stations for each ballot box; 60 ballot boxes were used in the constituency and 240 pencils were therefore available to voters.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional pencils were subsequently delivered to polling stations in East Antrim on 30 May; and at what cost. [31479]

§ Mr. Ancram
Following inaccurate reports of pencil shortages in the East Antrim constituency on 30 May, two additional pencils for each ballot box in the constituency, making 120 in total, were delivered by roving electoral officers to polling stations. These were delivered at no extra cost and there were already sufficient pencils for all polling booths.

§ Mr. Beggs
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many voting booths were provided at polling stations in East Antrim on 30 May. [31477]

§ Mr. Ancram
A total of 231 voting booths were provided at polling stations in East Antrim on 30 May.