Postal and Proxy Voting

HC Deb 14 June 1979 vol 968 cc266-7W

Mr. Murphy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider taking steps to enable people away on holiday at the time of an election to exercise their democratic right by providing postal or proxy voting.

Mr. Brittan

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. Pawsey) on 11 June.—[Vol.968, c. 9.]

Mr. Speller

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of he number of holidays cancelled by Sectors who feel bound to remain at home to vote, and the disenfranchisement of those who miss voting because of long standing and expensive holiday arrangements, if he will introduce legislation to treat absence on holiday in the same way as absence on business in qualifying for a postal vote.

Mr. Brittan

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. Pawsey), on 11 June.—[Vol.968, c. 9.]