§ 45. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of moving to appoint a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into such measures of electoral reform as age qualification for ex-Service men and women, reduction of cost of elections, further restriction on the activities of outside agencies, variation in amount of deposit, use of conveyances for taking voters to the poll, the use of loud-speakers and the methods of voting, so as to obtain a fairer representation of political opinion in the House?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)The first point raised in this Question has been carefully considered, and it has been decided not to reduce the age qualification below 21 for the next General Election in respect of Service or ex-Service men and women, since any such step would operate harshly on those other young persons who, by virtue of their essential war work, have been unable to join the Forces. Since the other points raised will be open for discussion during the opportunity to be afforded to Parliament to discuss questions of electoral reform in good time before the next General Election, I do not consider it necessary for these matters to be investigated at this time by a Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry.
§ Mr. Edmund HarveyWould not such a discussion by Parliament be much more profitable if there could be a preliminary inquiry such as is suggested in the Question?
§ The Prime MinisterMost people have been inquiring into these matters during the whole of their Parliamentary lives.