HC Deb 24 June 1943 vol 390 cc1311-5
55. Mr. Graham White

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now is a position to make a statement on the conclusions of His Majesty's Government with regard to the Report of the Committee on Electoral Machinery?

Mr. H. Morrison

As the answer is a long one, I propose to read it at the end of Ouestions.

Later—

Mr. Morrison

The Departmental Committee on Electoral Machinery has recommended that, for the purposes of a postwar General Election, there should be prepared an Armed Forces register to enable members of the Forces and merchant seamen to vote either by post or by proxy, and that, as regards civilians, each electoral registration, officer should be notified through the national registration machinery of the voters residing in his constituency, and kept informed through the same machinery of arrivals and departures. By these means the material for compiling an electoral register for each constituency can be kept continuously up to date. The Government propose to submit to Parliament the necessary legislation to enable effect to be given to this scheme. As soon as the scheme is in operation it can be used not only for a General Election but for any by-election.

It would not, however, be practicable for the purposes of by-elections occurring during the war to print electoral lists simultaneously as before the war for every constituency throughout the United Kingdom. Such a task would involve a greater diversion of man-power than could be justified under war conditions. The plan contemplated is that when a vacancy occurs the electoral registration officer for that particular constituency shall prepare from the material already supplied to him an electoral list either by a process of typing and multiplying or printing; that the business premises qualification shall be obtained by claim; that claims and objections shall be dealt with swiftly by the electoral registration officer under a simplified procedure; and that the list, with such corrections as may be effected in this way, shall become the electoral register for the by-election.

When this scheme is in operation it will provide effective machinery to enable votes to be given at any election by persons who have attained the age of 21. If they are in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy, they will be able to vote by post or by proxy as they are registered in the appropriate constituency. If they are civilians, they will be entitled to vote for the constituency in which they are residing, provided they have been resident there for a specified period. For this purpose it is suggested that a period of two months would be appropriate.

Time will be required to complete the arrangements by which the national registration officers will notify each electoral registration officer of the civilians resident in his constituency, and for compiling the Armed Forces register, but every effort will be made to hasten the preparation of the Bill and the subsequent administrative arrangements.

I am not at present able to make any statement as to the redistribution of Parliamentary seats, but I hope to do so shortly.

Mr. White

Will my right hon. Friend be able to introduce this Bill at an early date? If not, having regard to the widespread interest in electoral matters, would he confer with the Leader of the House and possibly give a day for a discussion?

Mr. Morrison

I will get on with the preparation of the Bill with all practicable speed.

Mr. Stephen

This Session?

Mr. Morrison

I hope so. It is a fairly technical job, but there will be no time lost, and we will bring it in as soon as Parliamentary time permits, which I hope will not be unduly long ahead. With regard to a Debate before the introduction of the Bill, it seems to me that that would duplicate discussion in the House, and it would be wiser to wait until the Bill is available and the Second Reading is fixed.

Sir Hugh O'Neill

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Government have given any consideration to that portion of the Committee's Report which dealt with the possibility of a General Election taking place during the war, in which they recommended that if that happened the only possible way would be to vote by means of identity cards?

Mr. Morrison

That was very carefully considered, and we came to the conclusion that the method which I have indicated would be better. It is conducive to the better conduct of elections if there is a register than if there is not. I hope that the answer I have given will make it possible for a General Election to be held in war-time, if unhappily that should become necessary, under the arrangements I have indicated, which I think would be more satisfactory than merely relying upon the identification card.

Sir Richard Acland

Would the Minister and the Leader of the House consider whether there is not a good deal to be said for having a discussion on the proposals that he has made while there is still time for suggestions made by hon. Members to be embodied in the Government proposals before they get stereotyped, as they do when they are in the form of a Bill?

Mr. Morrison

There is no case for that. This House deals with legislation when it has got it, and it will get this Bill at an early date. It would be an innovation in Parliamentary proceedings—[Interruption]. It would be in this connection. It is not a matter in which we want to proceed by Resolution. It is a straight issue, and it would be wrong and rather absurd to have a preliminary Debate. I have outlined the proposals. I think that they will commend themselves generally to the House and the country, and there will be ample opportunity for Debate when the Bill comes in.

Sir R. Acland

Will the Bill be brought in before the Summer Recess?

Mr. Morrison

I cannot be sure, but if we can get it ready in time, it will be.

Sir Herbert Williams

Can the right hon. Gentleman say by how much it is proposed to extend the period between the date of the announcement of the election and the polling day, because obviously the preparation of a register is bound to take a number of days, and electoral work cannot be done until the register is available?

Mr. Morrison

The hon. Gentleman has put a real point. It is clear that if we are to have a register so that everybody can vote instead of only a proportion, there will have to be a greater period of time between the occurrence of the vacancy or the moving of the Writ and the actual polling day. However, we will make a proposal whereby that may be secured. The period will be rather material, but I think that on balance it will be a small point compared with having an effective register.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Do I understand that in these by-elections there will be a postal vote from the Forces?

Mr. Morrison

The postal vote of the Forces will be of the Service men in this country. I do not think there will be any material delay, possibly not any. The proxy vote will solve itself.

Sir J. Lamb

In view of the great reduction in the number of the clerical staffs of local government and registration officers, will due consideration be given to the possibility of providing the necessary labour which will be required for the compilation of the register?

Mr. Morrison

That was an issue which had to be met. I know the difficulties of local authorities, but we have consulted representative registration officers and given the matter great attention. I think that with some assistance from the central authorities that problem can be solved.

Mr. Higgs

Will not men overseas have a vote?

Mr. Morrison

They will vote by proxy.

Earl Winterton

Is the Minister aware that the disproportion that already exists between the size of constituencies will be increased by these proposals, however excellent they may be in themselves? Will he give serious consideration to the possibility of some committee of inquiry, if that be necessary, so that he can bring in a Redistribution Bill before the close of this Parliament?

Mr. Morrison

That matter is being given careful consideration. We could not get our minds finally clear about it for a statement to be made to-day, but I will make a statement about it as soon as possible.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

May I ask whether—

Mr. Speaker

I think we had better get on with the next business.