§ 79. Mr. GULLANDasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in spite of his appeals, there are many constituencies in which no house-to-house canvass for registration purposes has yet been made; and whether, in view of the frequent pledges of the Government during the progress of the Representation of the People Bill that for the first register a house-to-house canvass should be made and of the urgency of the matter and the necessity for a complete register, he will state what further steps he intends to 2380 take to secure that all registration officers shall carry out this policy?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Stephen Walsh)Such information as is in the possession of my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board does not accord with the implication contained in the first part of the question. In respect of certain are as to which specific attention had been drawn, my right hon. Friend caused inquiry to be made, and found that in almost every case a house-to-house canvass had been made, and in many cases a second visit to verify the information supplied. But if the right hon. Member can give at once particulars of the cases he has in mind, my right hon. Friend will cause inquiry to be made as to the reasons which have prevented his instructions being carried out.