§ 44. Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked whether the Treasury scale of registration expenses under the Representation of the People Act has yet been prepared; and, if not, when it is likely to be published.
§ Mr. BALDWINThe scale for England and Wales has already been published. It is hoped to publish the scales for Scotland and Ireland during the course of this week.
§ 71. Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDasked the President of the Local Government Board if facilities will be given to soldiers to registers their claims for votes in the camp in which they are quartered?
§ The PRESIDENT of tine LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)All practical facilities will be afforded to men serving in the Forces to register as naval and military voters. I 32 will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Memorandum of Instructions which has been issued on the subject.
§ Colonel SHARMAN-CRAWFORDWill the facilities also be given to enable soldiers to record their votes in the camp in which they had registered, namely, to make camp polling stations?
§ Mr. FISHERMy hon. Friend will derive a great deal of information from the Instructions.
§ 85. Mr. M. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have yet published the rules to be made by them under Section 44, Sub-section (9, b), of the Representation of the People Act; whether any meetings held by the local authorities under Section 39 of the Act have had any rules to guide them; whether any Order in Council has been made as in England prescribing forms under the Act; and, if not, whether and when it is. intended to issue one?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Local Government Board have issued circulars containing instructions in regard to polling districts. The Board have given, by correspondence and interviews, the fullest possible assistance to county councils and registration officers in the matter. They do not propose to issue formal rules until after the first register has been prepared. The Order in Council of the 22nd March contains the forms prescribed for Ireland in connection with the Representation of the People Act.
§ Mr. M. HEALYDoes not the Act require that they shall prescribe and make rules, and is it not absolutely necessary for the purposes of the first register that these rules should be issued?
§ Mr. DUKEIf the hon. Member will refer to the answer I have given I think he will see that the Local Government Board have issued circulars containing instructions. No doubt that has the same effect that he desires. They are following that up by giving all the assistance they can on the innumerable points that must arise in the making of the first register under the new Act.