To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will ask the chief electoral officer to give evidence to the Electoral Reform Committee of the Northern Ireland Forum for Peace and Dialogue. [10314]

[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The chief electoral officer is an independent office whose duties are clearly established by statute.It would not be appropriate for me to ask the chief electoral officer to do anything without those duties. I am aware, however, that the chief electoral officer has made clear that he is always prepared to see elected representatives at his office to discuss those matters within his area of responsibility.