§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the constituencies in which the lists of electors voting or not voting in(a) the 1992 general election and (b) the 1993 local elections were purchased, and by whom; and if she will make it her policy to end the availability and sale of such details. [5569]
§ Mr. IngramThere are no records held by the Clerk of the Crown's Office, or the 26 Local Councils in Northern Ireland, which show any requests being received for copies of the marked register of electors for constituencies in Northern Ireland for either the 1992 general election or the 1993 local elections.
The purchasing of such information in respect of a general election is provided for in the Representation of the People Act 1983, and for local elections in Northern Ireland this provision is mirrored in the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. If the hon. Gentleman has information as to why this UK wide practice should be altered in the case of Northern Ireland I would be interested to hear it.