7. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the recent elections to the parish council at Weston Favell, Northampton; if he is aware that the majority of the electors reside in an area known as the Abington estate, about one mile from Weston Favell village; that the residents applied to the parish clerk for the polling station to be situated on the Abington estate; why, when he received representations on the matter, he declined to take action; and if he will consider the introduction of a Bill to amend the Parish Councils Act, in order to provide more than one polling station for situations of this kind?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member has called my attention to this matter, and I have already informed him that, under the existing rules, it rests with the returning officer to fix the polling place in the parish, and that I have no authority to direct him to change its situation. If there is a case for additional polling facilities, the proper course is to apply to the county council to divide the parish into polling districts. There is no need for amending legislation.
Mr. MALONEIs it not the case that under the Act only one polling station is required; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong feeling that this election was not conducted in the interests and on the request of the majority of the electors, and will he call for a report upon it?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have already explained to the hon. Member that, if there is dissatisfaction with the polling facilities, application can be made to the county council to divide up the parish into two polling districts, as they have power to do.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCertainly not.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI thought that there was more behind the hon. 2124 Member's question than appears on the Paper.