§ 5. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce a Bill to rectify anomalies in the electoral law and in particular the provision which entitles a prisoner to vote by post if the gaol is in a different area from his residence, but disfranchises him altogether if it is in the same area.
§ Mr. EdeI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Runcorn (Mr. Vosper) on 15th February.
§ Mr. KeelingDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it was ever the intention of Parliament that prisoners in gaols should be entitled to vote at all? Can anything be more ridiculous than the differentiation mentioned in the Question?
§ Mr. EdeI think that the differentiation is, as the hon. Gentleman says, ridiculous, and I hope that an opportunity will present itself of removing it either by removing the facility altogether or making it available generally to prisoners. It is not for me to say what I think the House of Commons thought or what it will do in the future.
§ Mr. WadeWhen the right hon. Gentleman is considering this matter, will he also consider introducing a Bill to rectify anomalies in the electoral system as well as anomalies of the electoral law?
§ Mr. AwberyIs this not, in addition to the sentence imposed on a prisoner for the crime he has committed, an additional punishment?