The ChairmanWe now come to amendment No. 2, in page 1, line 16, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert 'fifteen'.
§ Mr. WallerIn the light of the reasonable decision on amendment No. 4, and because this amendment is closely related to it and it would be illogical to have a different figure, I do not seek to move the amendment.
The ChairmanIn that case, I call upon the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) to move the next amendment in the group.
§ Mr. DarlingI beg to move amendment No. 5, in page 1, line 16, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert 'twenty'.
The ChairmanWith this, we will take the rest of the amendments in this group: No. 8 in, page 1, line 16, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert 'ten'.
No. 3, in page 2, line 6, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert `fifteen'.
No. 6, in page 2, line 6, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert `twenty'.
No. 9, in page 2, line 6, leave out 'twenty-five' and insert `ten'.
§ Mr. DarlingI make no bones about it, the 20 years is a compromise. When speaking of compromises, I must say that I was surprised to meet the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) in the Lobby a few moments ago. After his outburst, in which he was almost moved to tears, about the principle of the franchise, and the shame that he felt had been brought upon democracy in the House, it was surprising to discover him in the same Lobby as I and some of my hon. Friends.
Having accepted the figure of 20 years in clause 1, it is obviously logical to accept the same figure in clause 2.
I cannot agree with my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) and other hon. Members that it is absolutely wrong, and that, if one goes abroad, one loses all touch and, therefore, all right to vote in one's constituency. I have in mind one of my constituents who lived and voted in my constituency for a number of years. He went to work for the EC, initially for five years, and under the existing legislation was entitled to vote. As he is now going to do a further stint of five years, I do not see why he should be disfranchised in a separate election. And I am not just influenced in that. I am more than satisfied with the way in which he casts his vote. It is difficult to see why he should be disfranchised. As the mobility of labour increases and people go to work in Europe and other parts of the world, I do not believe that there is a strong principle that one must restrict the franchise to those who are resident within a constituency at any one time.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesWill the hon. Gentleman give way?
§ Mr. DarlingI will not give way, because I am sure that, if the hon. Gentleman really wants to speak, he will have little difficulty in catching the Chairman's eye.
On that basis, I trust that the amendment will be accepted, compromise or not.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) has moved amendment No. 5 and I believe that he was also speaking to amendment No. 6. At the risk of being accused by the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) of being a party to a collusion and for the reasons that I outlined in my remarks in the last but one debate, I commend amendment No. 5 to the Committee.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Amendment made: No. 6, in page 2, line 6, leave out `twenty-five' and insert 'twenty'.
§ Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clauses 3 to 5 ordered to stand part of the Bill.