§ 12. Mr. AMMONasked the Home Secretary why in the new electoral register it is not made clear as to whether the correct designation of women electors should be shown by the prefix Mrs. or Miss, respectively?
15 Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Home Secretary whether in the new electoral registers now being prepared, he will consider-the insertion of the designations Mr., Mrs., or Miss?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have carefully considered the matter, but the suggested additions to the names of electors would entail large additional cost in preparing the registers, and as the particulars are not required for identification of the electors at the polling stations, I do not feel justified in recommending the expenditure of public money for the purpose.
Mr. MALONEDoes the Home Secretary not realise that many ladies regard it as an insult to be wrongly described, and does he not think the small extra cost is worth it to satisfy the women, even if the Government will not receive many of their votes?
§ Mr. GEOFFREY PETOIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he can supply this most necessary information without any extra cost if, instead of adding "W" to the name of every woman, he will add "M" to the name of a married woman and "S" to the name of a single woman?
§ Mr. HARDIEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider that a mother and daughter can each have a vote and may have the same name? What are you to do there?
Viscountess ASTORDoes my right hon. Friend think the women do really care what they are called so long as they are voters?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWith regard to the suggestion made in two of the supplementary questions, I have arranged already that in the cases of both men and women, where there are two people in the same house of the same name, one should be called "Senior" and the other "Junior."
§ 22. Mr. THURTLEasked the Home Secretary the date when copies of the next register of electors will be available?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe next register of electors comes into force on the 1st May, 1929, but I am afraid I cannot say how long before that date the registers will become available in the different districts. I have no doubt Registration Officers will make copies available as soon as they are printed off.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that this register will be available at least one month before the General Election?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been in personal touch with a good many registration officers, and there is more difficulty in some districts than in others, but the qualifying period does not stop until 1st December, and I am assured that they will do all that they possibly can to expedite the printing.
§ Mr. POTTSIs the right hon. Gentleman giving any instructions to see that people who by some means are not on the register are allowed to vote?