§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what checks were made to ensure that all counting areas involved in the Welsh referendum were following the same procedure in relation to new guidance provided following representations from Denbighshire on the night of 18 September; and if he will make a statement. [23133]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesDecisions as to what regard should be had to the advice given by the Chief Counting Officer on the night of 18 September were for individual Counting Officers to take at their discretion; it would not have been appropriate for my officials to make inquiries on that matter during the course of the various counts.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he sought, and from whom, following representations received relating to the conduct of the count of the Welsh referendum. [23157]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI became aware of concerns in my constituency capacity in respect of the count in Caerphilly County Borough. I asked the Counting Officer to consider these and advise me of the outcome. He replied on 29 September. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library of the House. I have received no other representations on this matter.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Labour Party officials in his official capacity concerning the Welsh devolution referendum count in Caerphilly; on what dates these discussions took place; and if he will make a statement on the content of these discussions. [23166]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesNone.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales who gave the instructions for guidance to counting officers to be changed during the counting of the Welsh referendum votes; when this instruction was given; and what action was taken to ensure that the new guidance was followed. [23159]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe Chief Counting Officer decided to issue supplementary advice in response to the representations received from Denbighshire Counting Officer; this decision was made at approximately 11 pm on the night of 18 September. The advice was telephoned to Counting Officers. It was for them to decide what regard should be had to it, and it would not have been appropriate for officials to make further inquiries during the course of the counts as to how Counting Officers were exercising their discretion.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he was first notified of allegations of irregularities in the count of the Welsh devolution referendum count at Caerphilly. [23171]
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§ Mr. Ron DaviesI received verbal representations in my constituency capacity shortly after the referendum on 18 September.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what input into guidance to counting officers in the Welsh referendum(a) he and (b) his officials provided. [23267]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI made no input. My officials prepared draft guidance for the Chief Counting Officer to issue, drawing on guidance issued by the Home Office for the 1997 General Election.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) correspondence an (b) discussions his special adviser has had relating to the Welsh devolution referendum count at Caerphilly. [23135]
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what(a) correspondence and (b) discussions his special adviser has had relating to the Welsh devolution referendum count at Caerphilly. [23169]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesNeither of my advisers either corresponded about, or discussed, the count before Tuesday 6 January.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales at what hour the chief counting officer gave new guidance to counting officers in relation to the counting of votes during the Welsh referendum count. [23151]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesAt approximately 11pm.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) of 12 January 1997,Official Report, columns 39–41, by what means he became aware of complaints made by Caerphilly County Borough Council relating to aspects of the Welsh referendum count; and which representatives of his Department attended meetings at which such irregularities were discussed. [23168]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI am not aware of any complaints made by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his discussions with the chief counting officer during the counting of the referendum votes in Wales. [23156]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI had no discussions with the Chief Counting Officer during the counting of the referendum votes in Wales.
§ Mr. AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance his Department gave to returning officers relating to the Welsh devolution referendum counts in Wales; and if he will publish this guidance. [23163]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) on 12 January 1997,Official Report, columns 39–41, and to the supplementary letter I sent the hon. Member on the same day. Copies of that letter, and of the guidance issued to Counting Officers, are in the Libraries.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with his Department's officials since the result of the referendum was made known relating to the Welsh devolution referendum count at Caerphilly; and what was the date of such discussions. [23155]
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§ Mr. Ron DaviesI had no discussions with officials on this matter before 6 January, the date of publication of articles inThe Scotsman newspaper referring to the count at Caerphilly. In light of that publication, I sought information from officials as to whether they had received any complaints or correspondence relating to that count, and I informed them of action I had taken in my constituency capacity on the matter.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with his officials relating to irregularities during referendum counts in Wales. [23161]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesFollowing publication of press articles inThe Scotsman and the Western Mail, I have discussed with my officials the various allegations made, and the terms of my answer to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas), on 12 January 1997, Official Report, columns 39–41.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he made relating to the count of the votes at Caerphilly to the Chief Counting Officer for Wales(a) prior to and (b) after 1 January. [23152]
§ Mr. Ron Davies(a) None. (b) None.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions(a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Chief Executive of Caerphilly County Council since 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [23158]
§ Mr. Ron Davies(a) In my constituency capacity, I telephoned the Chief Executive on 6 January, following publication in The Scotsman of articles about the Caerphilly count. The purpose of my inquiry was to seek information about any outstanding complaints or concerns relating to the count. I was informed that there were no such complaints or concerns outstanding, all matters having been answered to the complainants' satisfaction in a letter from the Chief Executive dated 28 October 1997.
(b) None.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the training and guidance advice given to counting officers conducting counts during the Welsh referendum. [23162]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI have made no such assessment, but I consider the counting procedures to have complied fully with the Parliamentary Election Rules which Parliament stipulated should apply to the referendum.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the representations he has received relating to errors that were made during the Welsh referendum count. [23153]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesAs at 12 January, I had received no representations and I am unaware of any errors that may have been made.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the correspondence between the Welsh Office and other bodies relating to the Welsh devolution referendum count at Caerphilly; and if he will make public this correspondence. [23160]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThere has been no such correspondence.
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§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received in relation to the count of the votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly; [23129]
(2) what reports he has received in relation to the counting of votes in the Welsh referendum in Caerphilly. [23173]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI received verbal representations in my constituency capacity shortly after the referendum on 18 September. I requested the Chief Executive to consider them, and he wrote to me again in my constituency capacity, on 29 September. That letter is the only report I have received. A copy of it, and of my reply of 20 October, are in the Libraries.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales for how long his Department proposes to retain the ballot papers relating to the Welsh referendum; and for what purpose. [23154]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe papers will be retained for one year from 18 September 1997. It is considered appropriate to follow the practice adopted in respect of ballot papers at parliamentary elections.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had in his official capacity with outside bodies relating to the Welsh referendum count at Caerphilly; and if he will make a statement. [23165]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesNone.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice his officials issued relating to the counting of spoilt ballot papers during the Welsh devolution referendum count. [23270]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesFollowing the Chief Counting Officer's decision, in response to a request from the Denbighshire Counting Officer, to issue further advice on the treatment of ballot papers with the word "No" written opposite the "I do not agree" box, officials telephoned other Counting Officers to inform them that this advice had been given. The officials were acting in support of the Chief Counting Officer, and not on my behalf or with my knowledge.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what verbal advice was given during the Welsh devolution referendum count to returning officers seeking clarification on the counting of spoilt ballot papers. [23150]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Thomas) on 12 January 1997,Official Report, columns 39–41.