§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps he has taken to require returning 353W officers, or those responsible, to advise electors of the qualifications of eligibility for postal votes; and what further steps he will take to make this information available.
§ Mr. JohnAt the time of the two General Elections in 1974 there were nationwide newspaper and television campaigns to remind electors of the qualifications for postal votes and inviting them to apply. A similar campaign will be considered at the time of the next General Election.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many votes were cast by postal vote at each of the last 10 General Elections; and if he will estimate, even approximately, how many voters, eligible for postal votes through illness, old age, or absence by removal, did not claim a postal vote.
§ Mr. JohnThe numbers of postal votes reported as included in the count at each of the last nine General Elections are as follows:
Election data Postal votes reported as included in the count 1950 466,347 1951 742,605 1955 515,593 1959 598,559 1964 707,636 1966 513,041 1970 625,377 1974 (February)* 618,530 1974 (October)† 848,028 * It is known that 18 constituencies did not submit postal vote returns. † It is known that three constituencies did not submit postal vote returns. I regret that the number of postal votes cast in the 1945 General Election is not available; neither is it possible to give reliable estimates of the numbers of people who, though eligible, did not claim a postal vote.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for every parliamentary constituency the percentage of (a) total electorate and (b) total votes cast, of votes which were cast by postal vote, for the last three parliamentary General Elections and any by-elections.