81. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether a circular has been issued by his Department to registration officers ordering the preparation of the next register to be advanced by one month; will he state the reason why such an order has been made; and will he now give the consequential change of dates for publishing the lists and issuing the new register?
Mr. PRATT (Lord of the Treasury)My right hon. Friend is sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular recently issued which indicates the dates determined on for the preparation of the next register of electors. It was found essential; to allow for that register a longer period for the processes of preparation and printing than the Act permits in normal times, and as the date for the coming into operation of the new register could not be postponed beyond l5th October in consequence of the municipal elections in November it was necessary to anti-date the end of the qualifying period.