§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the turnout at the last general election as a percentage of those able to vote. [6009]
§ Mr. George Howarth[holding answer 1 July 1997]: The turnout at the last general election has been reported in the media as around 71 per cent. Official figures provided by acting returning officers will be published in due course, together with information on election expenses.
§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the electoral participation rates of(a) those living in private rented accommodation, (b) residents of inner London, (c) 21 to 24-year-olds, (d) attainers, (e) ethnic 240W minorities, (f) new commonwealth citizens, (g) those who moved in the year before a general election, (h) homeless people and (i) disabled people. [6012]
§ Mr. Howarth[holding answer 1 July 1997]: No estimates have been made of the extent to which members of any of these groups take part in the electoral process. 521,083 attainers were included in the 1997 Electoral Register but information on the other categories listed in the question is not required by the electoral registration officers.