§ 11. Mr. KIRKWOOD (for Mr. JOHNSTON)asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that half the electors at Dalwhinnie have to take train journeys involving five hours' absence from home, while the other half are compelled to go to Laggan by a 12-mile road across the moors to exercise the franchise; and whether he proposes to extend the system of postal voting or to appoint travelling polling officers in order to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have been asked to reply. I am informed by the Sheriff who is responsible for fixing the polling places in question that there are very few electors in the Dalwhinnie district and that he has received no complaint from them regarding the polling facilities provided. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes not the Secretary of State for Scotland, who has some knowledge of Scotland, think that it is hard lines that voters, who are citizens of this Empire, should not have the same facilities for registering their vote as individuals have in big industrial centres; why should we as Members of Parliament enjoy the privilege of being paid to come her; and facilities given to us—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is clearly making a speech.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhy should not the ordinary citizens of Scotland have facilities, as far as it is possible, for them to register their votes.? Fancy the idea of having—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is making a speech again.
§ Mr. HARDIEHas any consideration even been given to the desirability of having the system extended, whereby you could have peripatetic polling booths?
§ Mr. E. BROWNDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it advisable that in a scattered area, wherever there is a public elementary school, there should be a polling station?