HL Deb 03 August 1920 vol 41 cc671-3

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE in the Chair.]

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2:

Extension of right to vote by proxy.

2—(1) Section twenty-three of the principal Act shall have effect as though the following subsection were substituted for subsection (4) thereof:— (4) Any person whose name is entered on the absent voters list, on satisfying the Registration Officer as to the bona fides of the statement that there is a probability that such person will at the time of a parliamentary election be at sea or out of the United Kingdom, shall be entitled if he so desires to appoint a proxy, and having appointed a proxy to vote by proxy in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Act. No ballot paper shall be sent for the purpose of voting by post to a person who has appointed a proxy under this provision while the appointment is in force, or to any person unless the address of that person recorded by the registration officer is an address in the United Kingdom. The provisions set out in the Third Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to voting by proxy.

(2) The Third Schedule to the principal Act shall have effect as though the following paragraph were substituted for paragraph 4:— 4. A proxy paper, unless cancelled, shall remain in force so long as the elector continues to be registered in respect of the same qualification, and to be on the absent voters list.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (VISCOUNT ASTOR)

The first set of Amendments standing in my name are purely drafting.

Amendments moved—

Clause 2, page 1, line 16, leave out from "(list") to ("that") in line 17 and insert ("and who makes a statement in the prescribed form")

Clause 2, page 1,line 18, leave out ("such person") and insert ("he")

Clause 2, page 1,line 20, after ("Kingdom") insert ("and satisfies the registration officer as to the bona fides of such statement").—(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

The next Amendment is intended to make it quite clear that the existing proxies are not interfered with or prejudiced by this Bill.

Amendment moved—

Clause 2, page 2, at end of line 14 insert the following new subsection: ("(3) Any proxy paper in force at the date of the commencement of this Act shall continue in force as though it had been issued under the principal Act as amended by this Act.") —(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 3 agreed to.

Clause 4:

Short title and commencement.

4.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Representation of the People Act, 1920, and the Representation of the People Acts, 1918 and 1919, and this Act may ba cited together as the Representation Of the People Acts, 1918 to 1920.

(2) This Act shall come into operation at the expiration of two months from the passing thereof, but whore at the date on which this Act comes into operation a writ has been issued in respect of any election, this Act shall not apply to that election.

VISCOUNT ASTOR

The two Amendments on this clause are simply drafting.

Amendments moved—

Clause 4, page 2, lino 30, after the first ("People") insert ("(No. 2)")

Clause 4, page 2, line 30, leave out from ("and") to ("as") in line 31, and insert ("shall be included amongst the Act which may be cited").—(Viscount Astor.)

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, agreed to.