§ 33. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to enable returning officers to add information which will give in each case the number of people who did not vote at Parliamentary and local government elections.
§ Miss BaconSince the number of names on the electoral register is known, it is not difficult for anyone interested to make an approximate calculation for himself; and I am not persuaded of the need for putting any extra obligation on returning officers.
§ Mr. SpriggsDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that it would cost nothing to add this information and to make it available to the whole country in view of the necessity to reach these people who do not appear to accept any responsibility at all, even at election time?
§ Miss BaconI think that the implication of what my hon. Friend is saying is that he not only wants the number of people who have not voted to be stated, but their names and addresses to be known, and I think that this would be asking a little too much.