HC Deb 23 June 1966 vol 730 cc886-98
27 and 28. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many postal votes were cast in each constituency in the recent general election;

(2) how many spoiled ballot papers there were in each constituency in the recent general election.

Miss Bacon

I will circulate the information for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Blaker

I am grateful for that reply, but can the hon. Lady explain, as these figures were available to returning officers the day after the election, how it has taken nearly three months to publish them?

Miss Bacon

I do not understand the hon. Gentleman's question. He has asked for publication of the figures and I have published them. I suspect that he is thinking of another Question which he asked recently on the return of election expenses.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Is my hon. Friend aware that a high proportion of these ballot papers are not returned because they are sent to elderly or sick people who are incapable of understanding the complexities of the form involved? Will she assure us that, at an early date, an effort will be made to produce a simplified form for postal voting?

Miss Bacon

As my hon. Friend knows, there will be a debate on this question tomorrow when a Bill is to be brought before the House.

Following is the information:

Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
England
Bedfordshire
Bedford 1,551 36
Mid-Bedfordshire 1,357 50
South Bedfordshire 1,285 51
Luton 1,259 46
Berkshire
Abingdon 1,446 50
Newbury 1,171 66
Windsor 787 61
Wokingham 1,420 40
Reading 2,043 36
Buckinghamshire
Aylesbury 1,071 59
Buckingham 2,265 58
South Buckinghamshire 1,175 101
Wycombe 1,483 71
Eton and Slough 1,308 77
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
Cambridgeshire 1,213 26
Isle of Ely 757 73
Cambridge 1,260 37
Cheshire
Cheadle 1,147 55
City of Chester 877 136
Crewe 349 135
Knutsford 822 45
Macclesfield 846 79
Nantwich 524 25
Northwich 528 38
Runcorn 624 27
Stalybridge and Hyde 765 101
Wirral 895 48
Altrincham and Sale 895 50
Bebington 1,005 131
Birkenhead 635 90
Stockport North 753 115
Stockport South 682 98
Wallasey 1,036 53
Cornwall
Bodmin 1,637 53
Falmouth and Camborne 1,323 44
North Cornwall 1,991 34
St. Ives 1,021 41
Truro 1,332 30
Cumberland
Penrith and Border 916 37
Whitehaven 532 128
Workington 555 56
Carlisle 1,702 64
Derbyshire
Belper 1,146 148
Bolsover 135 72
High Peak 1,144 42
Ilkeston 266 151
North East Derbyshire 337 143
South East Derbyshire 851 138
West Derbyshire 939 30
Chesterfield 371 33
Derby North 465 111
Derby South 406 64
Devonshire
Honiton 1,338 46
North Devon 1,452 27
Tavistock 1,065 46
Tiverton 1,116 35
Torrington 1,714 47
Totnes 1,313 67
Exeter 1,370 29
Plymouth Devonport 1,196 65
Plymouth Sutton 2,077 123
Torquay 1,060 49
Dorsetshire
North Dorset 1,176 34
South Dorset 1,624 34
West Dorset 1,124 40
Poole 956 45
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Durham
Bishop Auckland 334 55
Blaydon 337 82
Chester-le-Street 177 91
Consett 178 65
Durham 310 111
Easington 149 64
Houghton-le-Spring 216 61
North West Durham 458 60
Sedgefield 489 74
Darlington 1,026 21
Gateshead East 267 78
Gateshead West 216 22
Jarrow 473 73
South Shields 361 103
Stockton-on-Tees 550 77
Sunderland North 568 97
Sunderland South 889 96
The Hartlepools 861 40
Essex
Billericay 1,854 58
Chelmsford 1,279 51
Chigwell 887 62
Colchester 1,740 40
Epping 1,419 74
Harwich 1,264 57
Maldon 1,951 50
Saffron Walden 2,055 43
South East Essex 923 47
Thurrock 319 45
Southend East 1,050 43
Southend West 975 46
Gloucestershire
Cirencester and Tewkesbury 801 279
South Gloucestershire 1,205 37
Stroud 1,613 38
West Gloucestershire 642 42
Bristol Central 372 45
Bristol North East 1,160 118
Bristol North West 1,494 90
Bristol South 366 71
Bristol South-East 557 96
Bristol West 1,044 43
Cheltenham 967 194
Gloucester 824 32
Hampshire
Aldershot 916 94
Basingstoke 1,024 61
Eastleigh 1,176 34
New Forest 1,043 47
Petersfield 1,143 37
Winchester 1,108 28
Bournemouth East and Christchurch 765 31
Bournemouth West 756 52
Gosport and Fareham 1,049 26
Portsmouth Langstone 1,436 36
Portsmouth South 918 102
Portsmouth West 1,187 54
Southampton Itchen 427 112
Southampton Test 1,081 40
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Herefordshire
Hereford 939 41
Leominster 898 42
Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire 1,393 56
Hemel Hempstead 1,384 55
Hertford 1,201 239
Hitchin 1,698 222
St. Albans 924 34
South West Hertfordshire 1,075 70
Watford 1,262 143
Huntingdonshire and Peterborough
Huntingdonshire 957 48
Peterborough 1,358 38
Kent
Ashford 988 34
Canterbury 1,243 56
Dartford 1,286 48
Dover 2,683 59
Faversham 2,052 192
Folkestone and Hythe 892 199
Gravesend 1,568 63
Isle of Thanet 1,503 51
Maidstone 948 211
Sevenoaks 1,253 65
Tonbridge 1,315 54
Gillingham 1,028 22
Rochester and Chatham 1,567 110
Lancashire
Chorley 1,248 130
Clitheroe 824 51
Darwen 1,334 40
Farnworth 429 122
Heywood and Royton 1,036 45
Huyton 604 45
Ince 193 122
Lancaster 700 100
Middleton and Prestwich 970 51
Morecambe and Lonsdale 851 32
Newton 711 153
North Fylde 514 42
Ormskirk 716 162
South Fylde 609 74
Westhoughton 513 107
Widnes 590 76
Accrington 1,192 53
Ashton under Lyne 560 95
Barrow in Furness 471 59
Blackburn 1,105 112
Blackpool North 470 27
Blackpool South 484 118
Bolton East 1,174 155
Bolton West 896 126
Bootle 297 141
Burnley 624 33
Bury and Radcliffe 1,351 134
Crosby 570 115
Eccles 374 107
Leigh 218 77
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Lancashire (contd.)
Liverpool Edge Hill 328 57
Liverpool Exchange 291 83
Liverpool Garston 543 149
Liverpool Kirkdale 426 42
Liverpool Scotland 98 36
Liverpool Toxteth 808 93
Liverpool Walton 654 58
Liverpool Wavertree 625 25
Liverpool West Derby 472 53
Manchester Ardwick 550 106
Manchester Blackley 802 38
Manchester Cheetham 142 73
Manchester Exchange 252 45
Manchester Gorton 328 135
Manchester Moss Side 477 63
Manchester Openshaw 242 80
Manchester Withington 638 63
Manchester Wythenshawe 893 47
Nelson and Colne 856 87
Oldham East 578 44
Oldham West 482 61
Preston North 844 74
Preston South 678 65
Rochdale 1,051 64
Rossendale 869 89
St. Helens 371 57
Salford East 553 103
Salford West 761 128
Southport 1,077 49
Stretford 821 62
Warrington 397 24
Wigan 231 51
Leicestershire
Bosworth 417 44
Harborough 960 32
Loughborough 807 44
Melton 1,052 95
Leicester North East 354 32
Leicester North West 384 98
Leicester South East 697 223
Leicester South West 410 101
Lincolnshire—Parts of Holland
Holland with Boston 712 124
Lincolnshire—Parts of Kesteven and Rutlandshire
Grantham 1,480 26
Rutland and Stamford 878 94
Lincolnshire—Parts of Lindsey
Brigg 587 109
Gainsborough 747 46
Horncastle 610 75
Louth 713 46
Grimsby 698 56
Lincoln 1,090 75
London
Barnet 753 33
Carshalton 712 43
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers ncluded in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
London (contd.)
Chislehurst 1,768 35
East Surrey 912 45
Orpington 1,201 26
Uxbridge 901 41
Acton 783 108
Baron's Court 906 93
Barking 266 26
Battersea North 198 82
Battersea South 772 47
Beckenham 1,018 60
Bermondsey 152 62
Bethnal Green 189 59
Bexley 1,228 18
Brentford and Chiswick 1,005 44
Bromley 892 47
Camberwell—Dulwich 1,185 56
Camberwell—Peckham 288 106
Chelsea 586 49
Cities of London and Westminster 806 79
Croydon—North West 673 53
Croydon—North East 658 35
Croydon—South 860 47
Dagenham 307 106
Deptford 219 63
Ealing North 1,011 44
Ealing South 707 60
East Ham North 223 69
East Ham South 163 50
Edmonton 569 230
Enfield East 341 26
Enfield West 670 37
Erith and Crayford 832 37
Feltham 492 41
Finchley 978 53
Fulham 867 143
Greenwich 525 312
Hackney Central 208 52
Hammersmith North 274 101
Hampstead 1,116 96
Harrow East 693 38
Harrow West 648 28
Harrow Central 594 36
Hayes and Harlington 295 79
Hendon North 1,045 39
Hendon South 680 44
Heston and Isleworth 708 47
Holborn and St. Pancras South 730 131
Hornchurch 1,232 271
Hornsey 1,263 129
Ilford North 679 40
Ilford South 751 37
Islington East 280 85
Islington North 644 62
Islington South West 173 174
Kensington North 746 106
Kensington South 873 58
Kingston-upon-Thames 619 46
Lambeth Brixton 393 97
Lambeth Norwood 942 91
Lambeth Vauxhall 185 85
Lewisham North 1,572 124
Lewisham South 475 45
Lewisham West 994 129
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
London (contd.)
Leyton 952 72
Merton and Morden 670 134
Mitcham 717 68
Paddington North 431 112
Paddington South 375 63
Poplar 131 80
Richmond 647 51
Romford 662 190
Ruislip-Northwood 484 24
St. Marylebone 579 72
St. Pancras North 513 166
Shored itch and Finsbury 135 100
Southall 421 102
Southgate 712 27
Southwark 396 135
Stepney 360 139
Stoke Newington and Hackney North 313 174
Surbiton 506 185
Sutton and Cheam 786 40
Tottenham 364 117
Twickenham 788 43
Walthamstow East 748 33
Walthamstow West 196 27
Wandsworth Central 1,133 54
Wandsworth Clapham 932 100
Wandsworth Putney 1,162 72
Wandsworth Streatham 550 194
Wanstead and Woodford 843 38
Wembley North 524 24
Wembley South 588 29
West Ham North 235 30
West Ham South 125 23
Willesden East 724 96
Willesden West 254 124
Wimbledon 643 31
Wood Green 597 112
Woolwich East 420 103
Woolwich West 1,399 147
Norfolk
Central Norfolk 1,477 121
King's Lynn 1,826 91
North Norfolk 2,112 96
South Norfolk 1,692 45
South West Norfolk 1,921 63
Yarmouth 1,166 83
Norwich North 582 51
Norwich South 1,480 74
Northamptonshire
Kettering 901 68
South Northants 1,239 128
Wellingborough 1,653 100
Northampton 891 143
Northumberland
Berwick upon Tweed 732 32
Hexham 881 44
Morpeth 253 71
Blyth 297 71
Newcastle upon Tyne Central 135 47
Newcastle upon Tyne East 625 60
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Northumberland (contd.)
Newcastle upon Tyne North 627 16
Newcastle upon Tyne West 543 84
Tynemouth 651 38
Wallsend 416 126
Nottinghamshire
Ashfield 191 121
Bassetlow 394 110
Carlton 941 42
Mansfield 303 200
Newark 1,378 115
Rushcliffe 1,223 43
Nottingham Central 992 69
Nottingham North 607 119
Nottingham South 1,000 125
Nottingham West 681 96
Oxfordshire
Banbury 1,450 56
Henley 854 284
Oxford 1,288 94
Shropshire
Ludlow 934 103
Oswestry 742 28
Shrewsbury 1,003 21
The Wrekin 1,378 80
Somersetshire
Bridgewater 1,411 50
North Somerset 1,954 49
Taunton 1,600 25
Wells 1,309 56
Weston super Mare 1,275 38
Yeovil 1,527 57
Bath 1,557 33
Staffordshire
Brierley Hill 992 156
Burton 1,139 80
Cannock 362 103
Leek 952 142
Lichfield and Tamworth 671 116
Stafford and Stone 858 42
Bilston 269 70
Newcastle under Lyme 506 141
Rowley Regis and Tipton 253 79
Smethwick 419 84
Stoke on Trent Central 174 75
Stoke on Trent North 159 53
Stoke on Trent South 230 99
Walsall North 384 75
Walsall South 1,097 128
Wednesbury 318 87
West Bromwich 378 78
Wolverhampton North East 258 77
Wolverhampton South West 687 129
Suffolk
Bury St. Edmunds 1,800 111
Eye 1,722 33
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Suffolk (contd.)
Lowestoft 1,569 31
Sudbury and Woodbridge 1,924 79
Ipswich 1,424 59
Surrey
Chertsey 834 60
Dorking 902 27
Epsom 952 64
Esher 983 67
Farnham 958 33
Guildford 990 36
Reigate 1,011 41
Spelthorne 737 47
Woking 1,278 61
East Sussex
Eastbourne 1,146 49
East Grinstead 1,383 49
Lewes 1,091 60
Rye 1,068 46
Brighton Kemptown 1,868 102
Brighton Pavilion 746 189
Hastings 977 55
Hove 1,143 70
West Sussex
Arundel and Shoreham 1,151 46
Chichester 1,136 49
Horsham 1,311 86
Worthing 1,290 31
Warwickshire
Meriden 1,121 115
Nuneaton 509 29
Rugby 1,153 104
Solihull 630 276
Stratford 972 40
Warwick and Leamington 1,083 99
Birmingham All Saints 562 111
Birmingham Aston 345 93
Birmingham Edgbaston 595 44
Birmingham Hall Green 471 38
Birmingham Handsworth 487 108
Birmingham Ladywood 112 38
Birmingham Northfield 769 128
Birmingham Perry Bar 412 46
Birmingham Selly Oak 503 71
Birmingham Small Heath 240 70
Birmingham Sparkbrook 335 134
Birmingham Stechford 311 51
Birmingham Yardley 697 75
Coventry East 360 74
Coventry North 389 150
Coventry South 690 180
Sutton Coldfield 857 39
Westmorland
Westmorland 587 24
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight 1,250 50
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Wiltshire
Chippenham 1,299 31
Devizes 1,243 51
Salisbury 1,056 146
Westbury 1,299 62
Swindon 409 105
Worcestershire
Bromsgrove 1,067 212
Kidderminster 761 81
South Worcestershire 797 46
Dudley 586 141
Oldbury and Halesowen 620 102
Worcester 851 90
Yorkshire—East Riding
Bridlington 567 54
Haltemprice 635 54
Howden 316 66
Kingston upon Hull East 257 40
Kingston upon Hull North 1,521 30
Kingston upon Hull West 326 65
Yorkshire—North Riding
Cleveland 775 47
Richmond (Yorks) 485 52
Scarborough and Whitby 715 42
Thirsk and Malton 647 139
Middlesborough East 170 60
Middlesborough West 733 77
Yorkshire—West Riding
Barkston Ash 885 152
Colne Valley 1,143 52
Dearne Valley 232 31
Don Valley 387 135
Goole 346 97
Harrogate 1,009 29
Hemsworth 363 76
Normanton 161 87
Penistone 332 54
Ripon 784 55
Rother Valley 163 121
Shipley 869 16
Skipton 781 35
Sowerby 926 129
Barnsley 423 130
Batley and Morley 597 47
Bradford East 309 112
Bradford North 732 111
Bradford South 643 19
Bradford West 787 120
Brighouse and Spenborough 1,660 122
Dewsbury 542 36
Doncaster 1,081 78
Halifax 1,538 39
Huddersfield East 799 48
Huddersfield West 955 46
Keighley 1,526 112
Leeds East 669 85
Leeds North East 716 148
Leeds North West 866 229
Leeds South 329 58
Leeds South East 271 68
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Yorkshire—West Riding (contd.)
Leeds West 544 38
Pontefract 300 55
Pudsey 1,119 27
Rotherham 332 65
Sheffield Attercliffe 144 81
Sheffield Brightside 202 45
Sheffield Hallam 622 36
Sheffield Heeley 887 143
Sheffield Hillsborough 252 40
Sheffield Park 101 42
Wakefield 539 138
York 1,583 139
England, Total 422,370 39,108
Wales
Anglesey
Anglesey 735 65
Brecknockshire and Radnorshire
Brecon and Radnor 1,065 161
Caernarvonshire
Caernarvon 812 75
Conway 1,214 104
Cardiganshire
Cardigan 1,070 44
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthen 1,382 51
Llanelly 650 135
Denbighshire
Denbigh 1,036 111
Wrexham 329 89
Flintshire
East Flint 950 69
West Flint 742 32
Glamorganshire
Aberavon 486 111
Barry 1,057 145
Caerphilly 260 83
Gower 396 117
Neath 381 149
Ogmore 579 53
Pontypridd 403 137
Aberdare 430 130
Cardiff North 870 255
Cardiff South East 1,436 42
Cardiff West 754 107
Merthyr Tydfil 193 55
Rhondda East 623 33
Rhondda West 431 31
Swansea East 515 59
Swansea West 1,528 122
Merionethshire
Merioneth 1,210 29
Name of Constituency Number of Postal Ballot Papers included in the Count Number of rejected Ballot Papers
Monmouthshire
Abertillery 201 90
Bedwellty 250 75
Ebbw Vale 511 83
Monmouth 1,696 117
Pontypool 292 123
Newport 906 107
Montgomeryshire
Montgomery 822 26
Pembrokeshire
Pembroke 1,333 65
Wales, Total 27,548 3,280
Northern Ireland
North Antrim 166 91
South Antrim 379 129
Armagh 505 388
North Down 198 119
South Down 1,621 159
Fermanagh and South Tyrone 5,978 186
Mid-Ulster 5,000 461
Londonderry 2,909 180
Belfast East 356 89
Belfast North 372 133
Belfast South 254 93
Belfast West 369 295
Northern Ireland, Total 18,107 2,323
Summary
England, Total 422,370 39,108
Wales, Total 27,548 3,280
N. Ireland, Total 18,107 2,323
Grand Total 468,025 44,711