§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate, whether he is aware that in the Island of Lewis there are 3,160 persons qualified to vote at County Council Elections, and that of this number 3,060 are disqualified to vote at School Board Elections; and, whether he is now prepared to take any steps to place the School Board electorate on a more satisfactory footing?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEThe information furnished to me does not agree with the statements in the Question of the hon. Member. Deducting those disqualified by non-payment of county rates, there are, according to the register for the current year, not 3,160 but 1,515 1004 persons disqualified to vote at County Council Elections in the Island of Lewis. According to the Valuation Roll for the same year there were, instead of 100 persons, 1,097 persons entitled to vote at School Board Elections in the Island. As I have before said in answer to the hon. Member, a change in the educational franchise can only be made by a general enactment, and I cannot pledge the Government to introduce such a Measure.