§ 4. Mr. Hugh Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for War approximately what percentage of men have so far registered as voters in each of the following commands and formations: British troops Egypt, troops Sudan, Palbase, Ninth Army, Cyrenaica area, 3rd Corps, 56th (London) Division, 46th Division, Paiforce, Tripolitania area.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 12th December.
§ 22. Mr. Quintin Hoggasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now make a statement on the progress of the registration of Service voters.
§ Sir J. GriggThe registration of Service voters began last April and has been continuing ever since. At the time it started there was no ascertained target date in view by which it had to be completed, and conditions since then, including the invasion of the Continent, have not been very favourable to rapid progress being made. During the first fortnight of November a special effort was made to ensure the registration of individuals who had previously been missed, and returns were asked for showing the numbers by Commands of those who had elected not to sign the declaration form (A.F. B 2626), and for purpose of comparison the ration strengths of the units covered by the returns.
I am not at liberty to quote actual figures, but the returns so far received cover about 70 per cent. of the total ration strength of the Army, and can, I think, be taken as fairly representative of the whole. Between 9 per cent. and 10 per cent. have not signed the declaration. The actual position is better than that percentage would suggest, because the ration strengths—the only figures readily available for purposes of comparison—include men under voting age and men who would not be residing in this country, if they were not serving, neither of which categories represent possible voters in 1945.
1599 Considering, therefore, that the obtaining of these declarations has had to be carried out under war conditions in all parts of the world, I think the result is highly satisfactory. The process of registration is still continuing, and even those units which have up to now been at a disadvantage in the matter will be able to improve their figures before the Service register is closed.
§ Mr. HoggCan my right hon. Friend give any idea of how the figures he has given relate to various commands at home and overseas, first as regards those who have sent in returns up to 70 per cent., secondly, about the nine or ten per cent. who failed to complete forms?
§ Sir J. GriggThe only general indication I can remember offhand is that the percentage of failures is more than 10 per cent. in the very distant theatres and naturally less than 10 per cent. in the nearer theatres.
§ Mr. BowlesWill the right hon. Gentleman make sure that all soldiers fighting in Greece have a chance to register?
§ Mr. John DugdaleWill the right hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taken to deal with those commanding officers who fail to send in returns, or who send in unsatisfactory returns?
§ Sir J. GriggI have first to be convinced that any of them exist.