§ Major MORRISON-BELL(by Private Notice)asked the Minister Of Health whether he was in a position to state what steps the Government intended to take to eliminate the long period elapsing between the casting of the votes at an election and the declaration of the poll?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Government have decided to bring in a Bill for abolishing the interval between the poll and the counting of the votes. They will propose that the system of voting by post should be limited to the United Kingdom, and that proxy voting should be permitted in all other areas. Some slight modifications of the present minimum periods between the receipt of the writ and the poll may be necessary in the case of by-elections. The Bill is in preparation, and I hope to be in a position to introduce it at an early date.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhen the proposals have been drafted I take it they will include provisions for the soldiers and sailors to have the same opportunities of voting as they have now?
§ Dr. ADDISONWe are trying to secure that end.