§ 18. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of moneys forfeited in election deposits at the last General Election; and, on this basis, what amount would accrue to the Treasury if the General Election deposit of £150, first established in 1918, were increased to its present-day value of £325.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerFifteen thousand pounds. If the deposit had been £325, the total would have been £32,500.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Home Secretary aware that on several occasions I have asked him to bring the figure up to its present-day value and he has refused? Is the reason because he is afraid that, as the elections are now going, it will cost the Tory Central Office a lot of money when they lose the by-election and General Election deposits?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. Hitherto, it has been people in other parties who have had to pay these sums, and it is out of the quality of mercy that I am not raising the deposit.