§ 38. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that only those Colonial civil servants who are paid out of money provided wholly by Parliament are eligible to vote in an election in the United Kingdom; and, as this rules out the majority of Colonial servants, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. The provision to which the hon. Member refers is contained in regulations approved by Parliament and accords, in my view, with the intention of Parliament when it enacted Section 6 of the Representation of the People Act, 1948.
§ Mr. GammansDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise the anomaly that officers in the Consular Service abroad have a vote in this country, but officers in the Colonial Service abroad normally have no vote?
§ Mr. EdeThat is a point that should have been raised when we had a very full discussion on this matter when the Bill was going through the House.