BRITISH RESIDENTS ABROAD AND VOTING RIGHTS

HL Deb 10 March 1975 vol 358 cc125-6WA

Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether those British subjects resident abroad who are registered with their local Embassy are to be deprived of a vote in the Referendum.

Lord SHEPHERD

British subjects who are not resident in the United Kingdom on the qualifying date each year are not entitled now to vote in elections. The extension of the franchise for the Referendum to British subjects resident abroad raises many difficulties, but this is a point the Government will consider.