asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated cost of holding local elections if they are held in June 1984 in conjunction with European Parliament elections.
197.
Written Answers. - Local Elections.
196.
asked the Minister for the Environment the estimated cost of holding local elections in 1985.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
The cost of conducting local elections is borne by the individual local authorities and there is provision for sharing costs where the polls at county and urban elections are taken together. The last occasion on which local elections were held on their own was 1974. On the basis of information furnished by local authorities at the time it is estimated that the cost of separate local elections could be in the region of £1 million.
Based on information available in relation to the combined European Parliament and local elections held in 1979 it may be estimated that the additional cost of holding local elections with the European Parliament elections would be in the region of £600,000. It is emphasised that both estimates are tentative.