HC Deb 15 May 1958 vol 588 cc598-9
38. Mr. J. Rodgers

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Representation of the People Acts to make provision for altering the register once it has been published if a name has been omitted through the error of an official.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No, Sir. Much as I regret the mistakes that occasionally occur, I attach great importance to the principle that the register, once published, is final.

Mr. Rodgers

I appreciate the need for maintaining public confidence in the register, but does not my right hon. Friend agree that it is quite unjust that people should be excluded from the register, after they have filled in the necessary forms, simply because of a clerical or a printer's error? Should not steps be taken to have the names of these men returned to the register so that they are not disfranchised?

Mr. Butler

The register is compiled to cover about 29 million voters, and on the whole we escape without very many mistakes. In the circumstances, and in view of the precedents—because this matter has come up before my predecessors on many occasions—I would rather adhere to my general answer unless I get evidence to make me alter my mind.

Dr. King

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that most British citizens prize very highly the right and privilege of voting, and that if they are deprived of that vote through no fault of their own they feel a very deep sense of injustice?

Mr. Butler

I have to balance that very important consideration of our civil liberties against the very considerable difficulty of altering the register once it is published.