§ 40. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that registration officers in the London area are delivering the new registration forms at houses without making proper inquiry as to the persons residing there and are simply leaving the forms to be filled up by the occupiers and posted to the registration officers; whether he is aware that a large proportion of these forms are not being returned; and whether, with a view of saving labour and time and obtaining efficient registers, he will instruct registration officers to make a proper house-to-house canvass and fill up the forms forthwith by their canvassers on the information obtained?
Mr. FISHERThe view which I hold, and which I have represented in a circular issued to registration officers, is that a house-to-house inquiry will be necessary in practically every registration area. If, 1540 later on, the hon. Member becomes aware of cases in which no such inquiry is proposed to be made, and will furnish me with particulars, I will communicate with the registration officer who is responsible for the preparation of the lists. I hope, however, the hon. Member will recognise the extraordinary difficulties under which registration officers are working at the present time.