§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tendered ballot papers were issued in(a) the 1997 General Election, (b) the 1999 European Election and (c) the 1999 and 1998 local elections. [93216]
§ Mr. George HowarthIn Great Britain, lists of tendered votes issued at general elections are retained by the Clerk of the Crown and, unless ordered by the House of Commons or the High Court, are destroyed after 12 months. Lists compiled at the European Parliamentary elections are retained by the local returning officer for 12 months and lists compiled at local elections are retained by the proper officer of the authority for six months and then, unless directed by order, respectively, of the High Court, or a county court or election court, are destroyed. The lists of tendered votes for the 1997 and 1998 elections are thus no longer available but those for the 1999 elections are available locally for inspection.
In Northern Ireland, where figures are kept centrally, 77 tendered votes were issued at the 1997 general election and 40 at the 1999 European Parliamentary election. No ordinary local elections were held there in 1998 or 1999.