HC Deb 12 February 1970 vol 795 cc1435-7
10. Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of potential voters due to reach the age of 18 years between February, 1970, and February, 1971, whose names will in fact appear in the new electoral registers.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

My right hon. Friend will be able to give this information soon after the registers are published on 15th February.

Mr. Lane

I am grateful for that reply, but if it turns out that the reports are accurate in saying that up to a third of the potential 18-year-olds may not be on the registers for one reason or another. will the hon. Gentleman consider doing even more before the next October registration date—

Mr. Arthur Lewis

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman has just walked into the Chamber. It is unusual to raise a point of order in such a discourteous manner.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I think that this House, unwittingly, is being discourteous, and I raise this point with you as an urgent matter. A number of nurses made an appointment to see me here at 2.30 p.m., and they are being kept waiting out in the snow. They have not been admitted, when there is plenty of room in St. Stephen's Hall to accommodate them. I think that it is disgusting, and I ask you to see to it that the authorities are told to let them in. They are just as important as the police. They have come here to discuss their salaries. We should give them every facility to come here, as well as the police.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I think that the authorities will take notice. Mr. Speaker cannot leave the Chair to deal with that question.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Snow

Further to that point of order. This is the second time that nurses have been treated in this way. I myself raised a similar point of order a few weeks ago. On that occasion also the Chair said that it had no knowledge, but the fact remained that a number of nurses had been kept waiting in bad weather. Cannot something be done as a matter of routine?

Mr. Speaker

Order. Mr. Speaker has many virtues, but is not omniscient.

Mr. Lane

When the figures are available for the present registers, if they show the accuracy of reports which suggest that up to a third of the 18-year-olds have not registered, will the hon. Gentleman consider whether he cannot do still more before the next October register to encourage a higher percentage of 18year-olds to register next time?

Mr. Morgan

I take note of the hon. Gentleman's remarks. He will be aware of the publicity campaign which took place some time ago and which met with considerable success.

Mr. Howie

Can my hon. Friend say how many of the young persons referred to in the hon. Gentleman's Question are members of the Young Conservatives? What can be done to protect them from the kind of speech that they had thrust upon them last night?

Later—

Mr. Speaker

On the point of order which was raised previously by the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis), I have received a note from the Deputy Serjeant at Arms that all the nurses had been admitted to the building by the time the hon. Gentleman raised the point of order.