§ Sir J. SIMONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now give the permission asked for on 12th January last for the publication of the Memorandum drawn up by him last December with reference to the disfranchisement of naval and absent voters in the Central Division of Portsmouth at the recent election; if he is unable to do so, will he state the reasons for the withholding of the Memorandum; and is he aware that the continued absence of any public ex-phi ration as to the disfranchisement of the naval absent voters is causing great dissatisfaction among the electors of Portsmouth?
§ Commander EYRES-MONSELLThe Memorandum referred to is a summary of reports received from the Portsmouth Naval Command, and represents the position from the naval point of view of the circumstances leading up to the disfranchisement of certain naval ratings. It is desired, however, to suspend publication of this Memorandum pending the completion of inquiries by the Home Office as to the procedure of registration officers. It is understood that the delay in investigation is due to the pressure upon the registration officer concerned by the preparation of the new register. On receipt from him of the necessary particulars, the investigation will be completed by the Home Office and a statement for publication will be issued by the two Departments jointly.