HC Deb 27 April 1972 vol 835 c1758
22. Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Service voters have been recorded in the Registers of Electors for each of the past five years.

Mr. Carlisle

The figures are, 225,278 in 1968; 210,866 in 1969; 142,189 in 1970; 92,156 in 1971; and 105,426 in 1972.

Mr. Steel

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that those national figures reflect what I find in my constituency, namely, that the number of Service voters is only 40 per cent. of what it was in 1969, despite the lowering of the voting age to 18, and the additional qualification of British Council personnel? Will the hon. and learned Gentleman look into why this has happened, and why so many Service men appear to be losing the right to vote?

Mr. Carlisle

The hon. Gentleman is right on the facts, but the figures are not entirely comparable, because previously there may have been on the register people who had left the Service, but who were registered as Service voters. Nevertheless, the Government are concerned about the rate of registration of individual Service voters, and this matter is being referred to Mr. Speaker's Conference.