§ LORD STRATHCLYDEMy Lords, I beg to move that the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations, 1957, reported from the Special Orders Committee on April 17 be approved, These Regulations, which amend the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations, 1950, result from alterations in registration areas and in the qualifications for the local government franchise which come into effect from the 16th May next under the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956.
As regards registration areas, at present every county or large burgh in Scotland has its own assessor, and "registration area" is accordingly defined in the 1950 Regulations as a county or large burgh. The 1956 Act, however, provides that valuation areas will, from the 16th May, be counties of cities and counties, and Regulation 4 of the new Regulations makes the consequential alteration in the definition of a "registration area".
As regards local government franchise, the present position is that a person has a non-residential qualification to vote at a local government election if he is the owner or the occupier as tenant of any property of more than £10 a year in value. As a result of the abolition of owners' rates, the 1956 Act restricts as from May 16 the qualification to persons occupying as owner or tenant any such property. This change involves changes in certain of the forms used in connection with the registration of electors, and Regulations 3, 5, 6 and 7 make the necessary alterations. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations, 1957, reported from the Special Orders Committee on April 17, be approved.—(Lord Strathclyde.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.