§ Mr. Culverwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that no provision has been made for British officers of the Indian Army and the Royal Indian Navy to vote at the next General Election; and whether he is taking any steps to rectify this anomaly.
§ Mr, H. MorrisonThe object of the existing law is to enable the Parliamentary franchise to be exercised not by all British subjects who are members of the Armed Forces of the Crown, but by 57W those who are resident in or would, but for their war service, be resident in the United Kingdom. For this reason the provision in the Electoral Registration Act of 1943 is limited to members of the Armed Forces of the Crown raised in the United Kingdom. The question is at present under examination whether there are some officers of the Indian Forces who ought to be put in the same position as members of the Armed Forces raised in the United Kingdom, and if so whether any legislation can be devised to cover these special cases without opening the door to claims in respect of numerous other persons who cannot properly be regarded as persons who would, but for their war service, be residing in the United Kingdom; but I am not yet in a position to make a definite statement.