HC Deb 04 April 1898 vol 56 cc21-2
MR. F. MADDISON (Sheffield, Brightside)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board (1) whether he is aware that in Parliamentary and Municipal Elections it is usual for the returning officers to allow voters to see the nomination, papers which have been handed in, and that the same practice prevails with regard to guardians elections; (2) whether the returning officer in the Sheffield Union refused to inform voters of the names of those nominated until many hours after the time for nominations had closed; (3) whether he refused to disclose the names of proposers and seconders of candidates until after the time for withdrawals had passed; and (4) whether such refusals were according to the regulations governing guardians' elections; and, if so, whether he would issue a further regulation authorising returning officers to consult the public convenience in such matters?

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

There is no obligation, so far as I am aware, on the part of a returning officer, either at a Parliamentary or Municipal Election, to allow voters to see the nomination papers which have been handed in. The returning officer of the Sheffield Union informs me that he received 174 nominations, of which 50 were handed in within a quarter of an hour before the expiration of the time for receiving nominations; that an application was made to him for the list of the candidates nominated when he was engaged in adjudicating upon the nominations, and that he declined to give this until his examination was completed. The returning officer was entitled to refuse to furnish the list at the time it was demanded. The answer to the third paragraph is in the affirmative, and in this case also the returning officer did not contravene the regulations. The regulations provide for the publication of a list of the persons nominated, and I have not previously received any suggestions that further provision in these matters should be made by the regulations. I shall, however, be happy to consider any representations which may be made on the subject.