§ Order made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, extending Section 1 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to the Borough of Oldbury [copy presented 6th November] approved.—[Sir H. Lucas-Tooth.]
§ 10.0 p.m.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir Hugh Lucas-Tooth)I beg to move,
That the Order made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, extending section 1 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to the Urban District of Dearne, a copy of which Order was laid before this House on 6th November, be approved.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Bing (Hornchurch)I intervene only to ask the Joint Under-Secretary of State how many people voted in this poll, what was the percentage 1079 who voted for, and what was the percentage who voted against of the total electorate?
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothThe figures for which the hon. and learned Gentleman has asked are as follows. There were 1,342 votes in favour of the proposal and 295 against, making a majority in favour of 1,047.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothThe total electorate on 20th November, 1951, was 15,790.
§ Mr. BingIf the hon. Gentleman can quickly calculate the percentage, what was the percentage that voted in favour, the percentage that voted against and the percentage that abstained?
Question put, and agreed to.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothI beg to move,
That the Order made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, extending section 1 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to the City of Cardiff, a copy of which Order was laid before this House on 6th November, be approved.
§ Mr. Geoffrey de Freitas (Lincoln)Can the Joint Under-Secretary of State tell us in this case whether there has been a poll since the war and whether there was a different result at that poll? So often these orders come before the House and we do not realise the important fact that there has been a poll reversing a previous decision of the people of that area. Can the hon. Gentleman let us know whether that is so in this case?
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothI understand that there has been no poll since the war. This is the first one in the City of Cardiff.
§ Mr. BingI intervene again only because it is rather unsatisfactory in these matters if the Minister concerned does not come equipped with all the figures. It is much more convenient for the House if we know what percentage of the people voted. Obviously if the House is asked to approve a thing of this kind, it should not be a mere formality. We ought to know whether 5 per cent., 10 per cent. or 20 per cent. voted.
I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman can give us those percentages in this case. I do not press him on this occasion if his staff have not worked them out for him, but perhaps on subsequent Orders he could come to the House furnished with 1080 the information of the percentage of people who voted for, the percentage who voted against and the percentage who abstained from voting. These figures were always available under the previous Administration.
§ Sir H. Lucas-ToothI waited before rising for a second time in case the hon. and learned Member had any such question to ask, and I looked at the hon. and learned Gentleman, but he refrained from rising. If he had risen before I rose, I should have been ready to give him the figure. With the leave of the House, I can give it to him now. It is 45.2 per cent.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Order made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, extending Section 1 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to the Urban District of Tor-point [copy presented 6th November approved].—[Sir H. Lucas-Tooth.]
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. Kaberry.]