§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those eligible to vote in each constituency of Northern Ireland have(a) applied for and (b) received an electoral identity card. [120889]
§ Mr. SpellarNo record is maintained of applications made for the electoral identity card by constituency because of the validation procedures set up involving the electoral register. All accurate and complete applications, however, will result in the issue of the card. The number of cards issued at 3 July 2003, along with the percentage of the electorate having applied in each of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies, is as follows:
Constituency Number of cards issued Percentage of electorate issued with cards Foyle 6,847 10.5 East Londonderry 4,194 7.5 North Antrim 4,921 7.0 East Antrim 3,183 5.7 Mid Ulster 4,318 7.2 West Tyrone 5,165 8.9 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 5,217 8.1 Upper Bann 3,840 5.6 Newry and Armagh 3,887 5.6 South Down 4,175 5.9 Lagan Valley 4,097 6.0 Strangford 3,743 5.6 South Antrim 3,465 5.4 North Down 2,853 5.0 Belfast East 3,555 6.8 Belfast South 3,323 6.5 Belfast West 6,154 12.1 Belfast North 5,545 10.8 Total 78,482 7.1