§ 65. Sir I. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring to the notice of returning officers the desirability of offering employment during the forthcoming local elections to suitable disabled ex-Service men and women.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeYes.
§ 74. Mr. Lambertasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, at last year's local government elections, some nomination papers were declared invalid because of technical errors in filling them up; and whether he will send a circular advising returning officers to help candidates to make sure that their papers are properly completed.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe decision on the validity of a nomination paper rests with the returning officer, or at borough council elections outside London with the mayor, who is bound by the statutory rules, to which the attention of candidates and electors is drawn in the notice of election and in the form of nomination paper. The returning officer or town clerk is required by the rules to prepare for signature a nomination paper at the request of any elector, and my information is that they are generally willing to give further informal help if asked, for instance by checking a completed nomination paper informally before it is formally submitted. I see no objection to this practice provided all candidates are treated alike. I have no power to give instructions about this, but I will bring this Question and answer to the notice of returning officers and town clerks.