§ Mr. KELLYasked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of blind men and women in this country; and whether any request has been made for some method to be adopted at Parliamentary and municipal elections which would enable blind people to vote by secret ballot instead of, as at present, having to make known to the presiding officer at the polling booth whom they vote for?
§ Mr. CLYNESOn the 31st March last the number of blind men and women registered under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, in England and Wales was 48,408. As to the latter part of the question, a few representations have been received by the Department on the subject of voting by the blind at elections, but no method has yet been suggested which would ensure secret voting in the strict sense.