THE EARL OF ROSEBERY,in rising to move an Address for a Return showing the number of women in England and Wales who are qualified to vote for County Councils and for Councillors in municipal boroughs, indicating in each case what is the qualification which entitles a woman to be placed on the register, said: I have been informed by the noble Lord, through whose Department these Returns would come, that there will be great difficulty in furnishing them in the form which I desire, but that they will be given in different for England, Scotland, and Ireland. Even in that form they will, I think, give more information than is at present available.
§ * EARL BROWNLOWWith regard to the Return of women voters, it would entail great trouble and expense to give those relating to voters for Boards of Guardians and School Boards, and so much delay would be caused that the Returns would probably be useless. As however, the noble Lord is satisfied with the Returns in the form in which they have been offered, I will undertake to have them laid on the Table. The Return will consist of the number of women entitled to vote for County Councils and Municipal Councils.
§ EARL CADOGANI dare say my noble Friend is aware that women are not allowed to vote in municipal elec- 206 tions in Ireland except in one case—Belfast. I am afraid it will entail a very large amount of labour upon the clerks of Unions. If they are granted for England and Scotland, they should also be granted for Ireland.