§ 41. Sir PARK GOFFasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider amending the Representation of the People Act, 1918, so that the wives of serving officers and men of His Majesty's forces could be included in the absent voters' lists, so that they will not be 1482 debarred from exercising their franchise should they be living with their husbands who are serving at some place away from their home?
Captain WALLACEWives of naval or military voters living with their husbands anywhere in the United Kingdom can be registered as electors and if registered are entitled to vote in the same way as anyone else. The possibility that after registration the wife may move with her husband to another constituency and an election may occur before she acquires a qualification in her new place of residence is not peculiar to wives of naval or military voters, and my right hon. Friend cannot hold out any hope of legislation on the lines suggested.