§ 11. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the wives of officers and soldiers living with their husbands abroad are registered as Service voters.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Christopher Soames)About forty per cent.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this proportion of 60 per cent. of wives not registered is really rather shocking? Is he not aware, as I am sure he must be, that in some of the bases the arrangements for registration are extremely perfunctory, and will he not look into the whole matter 1215 because it seems unfair that wives living abroad with their Service husbands should lose their electoral rights?
§ Mr. SoamesIf the hon. Gentleman has anything to tell me or any evidence he can show me as to the arrangements being perfunctory, I will certainly look into it. My information is that, whenever a Service wife is to go abroad, she is sent a declaration form for her to become a proxy voter should she desire to fill it up.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonThere is a number of cases where that is not so.