§ 6.45 p.m.
§ LORD POLWARTH rose to move, That the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 1973, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move that these regulations be approved. I can assure your Lordships that I shall be a great deal more brief than I was on the last business. These regulations amend the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations, 1969, which are concerned with regulating procedural matters connected with the registration of electors. The object of these regulations is to provide for right honourable and honourable Members of another place to be supplied on request, and as of right, with a free copy of the register of electors for their constituency. It was generally agreed in another place that this would be helpful to them in their constituency work. Similar provision was made for England and Wales in regulations made earlier this year, because there are separate regulations in these matters in general for the two countries.
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The purposes for which registration regulations may be made are set out in Section 42 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, and in greater detail in Schedule 4 to that Act. Paragraph 10 of the Schedule enables provision to be
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made authorising or requiring the registration officer—
…to supply to such persons as may be prescribed copies of…the register…,whether free of charge or on payment of a prescribed fee.
The 1969 regulations already provide for free copies of the register to be supplied to candidates and prospective candidates at Parliamentary elections, but these copies are usually supplied to the local Party agents and the Members of another place may or may not receive one. These regulations will ensure that, if he wishes, a Member can obtain a free copy for his own use for his constituency work. My Lords, this is the only change made by the regulations, and I can assure your Lordships that it was generally welcomed by Scottish Members in another place. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations, 1973, be approved.—(Lord Polwarth.)
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, considering that of this half-page document only the last 2½ lines matter, it would be difficult to find an amendment even if one wanted to, would it not?
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.