HC Deb 26 July 1926 vol 198 c1689
56. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the position of married men, their wives over 30 years of age, single men over 21, who, as a result of their being transferred from Rosyth and Pembroke to Devonport, under the Economy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1926, will be disfranchised until the autumn register of 1927 at Rosyth and Pembroke as well as at Devonport and Plymouth because they will not have the six months' residence qualification in any of these places to include them in the autumn register of 1926; and whether, in these circumstances it is proposed to take any steps to remove this disability, which affects a number of people through no fault of their own?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I have not had my attention drawn to these cases, but the persons in question have lost their qualification for this year's autumn register as a result of the Representation of the People Act, not of the Economy Act, and the only effect of the latter Act in their case is that they will have to wait till the autumn of next year, instead of the spring, before getting on the register again. That, however, is not a very serious matter, as there is no likelihood of a general election next year, and all ordinary local elections are held on the autumn register.