§ Ian LucasTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the returns of election expenses for the 1998 elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly. [45295]
§ Mr. BrowneI have no plans to publish these returns. As required by the Representation of the People Act 1983, as applied through Schedule 1 of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 1998, the Returning Officer published in not less than two newspapers, the time and place where returns and declarations could be inspected in each constituency where the election was held. Those returns and declarations were also kept available, as required, in an appropriate place, for 12 months after being received by the Returning Officer.