§ 45. Mr. Maxtonasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been in Scotland under sections 9 and 10 of the Representation of the People Acts 1948 and 1983, since 1956.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandThe sections referred to do not themselves create criminal offences. However, there are offences relating to the failure to comply with, or the giving of false information in response to, a requisition from the Registration Officer under regulation 30 of Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1983. Statistics on these are not separately recorded.
§ Mr. MaxtonThat does not surprise me. Does the Solicitor-General agree that when his right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State introduces his poll tax and the electoral register becomes the major source of information for the new register, the number of prosecutions will increase dramatically? Will not the fines increase dramatically? Is it not possible that some poor people will finish up in prison? Is that not a threat to democracy itself?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandIt astonishes me that the hon. Gentleman has still not read the Green Paper. 946 I shall try, very slowly, to explain to him yet again that there are to be two separate registers and that there is to be a community charge register. It is true that the fines for failure to be registered under the community charge will be greater, but I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman takes exception to that. If people refuse, to go on to the community charge register, that will amount to an evasion of tax. I should think that the hon. Gentleman would strongly disapprove of that.