11. Mr. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that an instruction has been given to the presiding officers at the next Scottish Universities Parliamentary Election to prevent Parliamentary Agents from finding out how individual electors recorded their votes; whether he can state the name 1033 of the individual issuing the said instruction; whether he has in view the statutory method of postal voting at such elections and the statutory rights of candidates and their agents to be present and object to the validity of any voting paper; what action he proposes to take in regard to such instruction; and whether the Government have any proposals to make regarding the university Parliamentary franchise?
§ Mr. ElliotI am not aware that any such instruction has been issued. I understand, however, that, at a recent meeting of the General Council of St. Andrews University, the Vice-Chancellor said that, if he had occasion to act as presiding officer at a Parliamentary Election, he would ask the agents of candidates present at the opening of the voting papers to refrain from making a written record of how individual electors recorded their votes. No action on my part appears to be called for, and I have no proposals to make regarding the university franchise.
Mr. GibsonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman know that at that meeting the Principal of St. Andrews University made the statement that he had in fact received such an instruction? Has the right hon. Gentleman investigated that matter?
§ Mr. ElliotI shall certainly do so. I was not aware of the issue of any such instruction.