HC Deb 15 March 1984 vol 56 c498
10. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government intend to conduct any subsequent wider review of electoral law than that announced in their response to the Home Affairs Committee.

Mr. Mellor

If my hon. Friend has any particular issue in mind I should be happy to consider it.

Mr. Knox

Do the Government ever intend to do anything about the recommendation of Mr. Speaker's Conference in the 1970–74 Parliament to reduce the age at which people can stand for election to this House?

Mr. Mellor

That matter remains on the table. I am not promising early action on it.

Mr. Beith

Has the hon. Gentleman forgotten the Select Committee's firm recommendation that multiple registrations should be ended so that people did not have the right to vote in a large number of constituencies at parliamentary elections by virtue of the number of properties they owned? What does he intend to do about that?

Mr. Mellor

We made clear in the White Paper that we do not believe that it is practicable or desirable to change those arrangements. That White Paper is now before the House and we shall be receiving comments on it before making final decisions on the shape of legislation that we intend to bring forward next Session.