§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the percentage take-up among electors of the new electoral identity cards. [81574]
§ Mr. BrowneA question was included in this year's Annual Canvass registration form which asked electors if they would need an electoral identity card. Once the Annual Canvass is complete on 29 November and the new Electoral Register is published, the Chief Electoral Officer will be able to target his efforts and resources to those people who have indicated that they need the card. As of 16 November 220,000 (18 per cent. of the 1.2 million Northern Ireland electorate) had done so.
The Government is committed to providing those people who require one with an electoral identity card in time for the Assembly election on 1 May 2003. This also remains the target for the removal of all forms of non-photographic ID from the list of specified documents acceptable as proof of identity at the polling station.