HC Deb 16 March 1950 vol 472 cc1228-30
11. Mr. Marlowe

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to permit those who find themselves left off the new electoral register to make late application for inclusion, in view of the fact that this register is already known to be unsatisfactory.

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. Everyone had an opportunity in January to inspect the electors lists for the new register and, if his name was not included, to put in a claim to be registered.

Mr. Marlowe

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the pre-war system not having been used for some 10 years, until June of last year, a large number of people were not aware of that duty in this matter? Does he appreciate that this has been brought to their notice by the recent election, and that inspection of the register has shown that a large number of people are not on it? Would he say what would be the objection to having a supplementary list, provided an applicant now satisfies the electoral officer in respect of the qualifying date?

Mr. Ede

We do not want to create the whole machinery over again. The utmost publicity was given at the time; there were broadcasts and advertisements in the national and local newspapers, and I do not think it is possible now to re-open the matter.

Mr. Marlowe

Would the right hon. Gentleman allow me to put this suggestion to him? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I do not suggest re-opening the whole machinery—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."] I am asking a question. Would the right hon. Gentleman allow me to suggest—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I think I am in order and being interrogative, but I will put it another way. Would the right hon. Gentleman consider, instead of re-opening the whole machinery to which he refers, merely allowing those who have been left off the register now to be included?

Mr. Ede

I will see whether it is possible to do anything in this matter, but it must be clearly stated that the House set up a very elaborate machine by which these matters could be checked, and we must not be blamed because people, after the full publicity we gave, failed to take advantage of it.

Miss Irene Ward

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the registers to be displayed in the open in post offices and not kept, as is the practice now, under the counter?

Mr. Ede

If they are kept under the counter it is as undesirable a practice in that matter as in other matters. As far as my personal experience goes, the registers appear to be displayed in very prominent places in post offices. However, I will consult with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General to see that, if necessary, appropriate instructions are given to postmasters in this matter.

Mr. Peter Thorneyeroft

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases the fault is not as he suggests—the applicant failing to make application after publicity—but the returning officer failing to take note of the application.

Mr. Ede

If the hon. Gentleman can give me a case where a registration officer declined to consider an application—

Mr. Thorneycroft

No, failed to take notice.

Mr. Ede

—failed to give proper attention to a claim properly made, I will certainly have it investigated.