HC Deb 07 December 1944 vol 406 cc717-8
42. Mr. Hugh Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the approximate number of persons engaged in war work abroad who have been registered as parliamentary electors under the provisions of Section 11 of the Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Act, 1943; and what percentage of the total number eligible for this registration this number represents.

Mr. H. Morrison

The counterparts of 509 war worker declarations have been received at the Central National Registration Office. These counterparts are only sent to the Central National Registration Office by electoral registration officers when they have completed the work of filing the names and checking the proxies appointed and it is not possible to give the number of declarations received by electoral registration officers in respect of which action is not yet complete. As regards the second part of the Question, as "war workers abroad" consist of many varying classes of persons scattered in different places abroad, I regret that the information desired is not available.

Mr. Lawson

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask can he give some very rough indication of what percentage the number so far registered represents of the total eligible for registration? Is it 5 per cent. or 10 per cent., or what?

Mr. Morrison

I am very sorry but I am afraid I cannot.