§ 23. Mr. Rupert Speirasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to increase the number of motor vehicles permitted to carry voters to the polls at elections, in view of the great hardship imposed on electors in rural areas through the present limitations on the number of permitted vehicles.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI cannot promise legislation on this subject at present.
§ Mr. SpeirDoes the Home Secretary realise that in a widespread division, such as Hexham, many of the electors are more than five miles from the nearest polling station and with the present limitation we have less than one-third of a motorcar for each polling district? Is it not most undesirable that any obstacle should be put in the way of electors casting their votes?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI realise there is a problem. I do not rule out the possibility of legislation; but I say the subject is not one for immediate action, and clearly the usual consultations must take place before we deal with matters, such as this, which are the subject of legislation.