35. Mr. Bowerasked the Home Secretary whether he can make a statement on the constitution and terms of reference of the committee which is to consider certain administrative and technical problems that will arise in connection with the preparation of a new register of electors and possible redistribution of seats?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the constitution and terms of reference of the Committee.
§ Mr. KeelingWould the right hon. Gentleman consider whether any future announcement in the Press can be made in plain English instead of Civil Service jargon?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe difficulty was between clarity and accuracy. There was some conflict. We did our best to state the purposes of the Committee. I am sure that the Committee will understand their terms of reference.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Constitution of Committee:
§ Sir Sylvanus Percival Vivian, C.B. (Chairman),
§ Mr. Charles Craik Cunningham, C.V.O.,
§ Sir Rowland Evans,
§ Mr. Charles Lee des Forges, C.B.E.,
§ Mr. Morgan Garro Jones, M.P.,
§ Mr. William Glenvil Hall, M.P.,
§ Mr. Sidney West Harris, C.B., C.V.O.,
§ Mr. Herbert Holdsworth, M.P.,
§ Mr. Raymond Jones,
§ Mr. Charles Henry Lockhart,
§ Mr. Cecil Oakes, C.B.E.,
§ The Right Hon. Sir Robert William Hugh O'Neill, Bart, M.P.,
§ Major Goronwy Owen, D.S.O., M.P.,
§ Mr. George Robert Shepherd,
§ Sir Robert Topping,
§ Lieutenant-Commander Charles Williams, M.P.
§ Terms of Reference:
- To consider whether for effecting the purposes of the present system of electoral registration improved methods and machinery can be devised, having regard especially to the circumstances likely to obtain in the period following the termination of hostilities;
- and to examine the technical problems involved in any scheme of redistribution of Parliamentary seats by way of preparation for consideration of the principles on which any scheme should be based;
- and to report on both these matters.
§ The Joint Secretaries of the Committee are:—Mr. V. P. A. Derrick of the General Register Office (England and Wales), and Mr. K. Macassey, of the Home Office.