§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)To ask the Secretary for Scotland how many new 846 voters are estimated to be enfranchised for school board elections in Scotland under the new Education Act, and of what classes they will consist.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The proposals of the Bill will admit to vote at school board elections all householders with rentals under £4 who are disqualified by the existing school board franchise and also persons other than householders who are entitled to vote at Parliamentary elections. It is not possible to give any estimate of the number of these classes respectively.
§ MR. WATTTo ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his Department has formed any estimate of how many electors who have up till now voted in school board elections will be disfranchised under the Education (Scotland) Bill if it passes into law, on account of the fact that parish council registers will then be utilised; if so, will he say of whom these disfranchised voters will consist; and how many they are estimated to be.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) The only persons at present qualified to vote at school board elections who will not have a vote under the proposals of the Bill will be those not qualified to vote at Parliamentary and parish council elections on account of non-payment of rates. Certain other persons such as joint owners or occupiers whose names appear automatically on the school board roll as being on the valuation roll will, in future, require to make application to be placed upon the roll. It is not possible to make any satisfactory estimate of the number of these persons.