HC Deb 29 April 1988 vol 132 cc285-7W
Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to implement the Government's proposals to extend the franchise for British citizens overseas; and what plans he has for consultation about this matter.

since 1983 in the United Kingdom; what information he has as to the comparable figures for each member state of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

Information published by the Council of Europe is shown in the table. The Council of Europe publishes information on the prison population in member states twice a year in its "Prison Information Bulletin'', copies of which are held in the Library.

The figures for different countries are unlikely to be strictly comparable because the definitions of prisons and prisoners vary from one country to another, reflecting different legal and administrative systems. Such differences may have a substantial effect on the comparisons. However, the most recent information indicates that on 1 February 1987 the prison population per 100,000 inhabitants in the United Kingdom, at 96, was the fourth highest among 19 member states; for seven of the 19 states, including France and Germany, the rate was over 80 per 100,000 inhabitants. Between February 1983 and February 1987, the prison population per 100,000 inhabitants increased in 13 of the member states. In England and Wales the increase was 8 per cent. This increase was substantially lower than in several other countries: Portugal (60 per cent.), Ireland (46 per cent.), Luxembourg (37 per cent.), France (31 per cent.), Netherlands (29 per cent.) and Cyprus (28 per cent.).

Mr. Hurd

During this Parliament I intend to bring forward legislation to extend the eligibility of British citizens living overseas to register as electors in this country. I have placed in the Library copies of a consultation paper which the Home Departments are issuing today to representatives of the local authorities, electoral registration officers, and main political parties. This discusses possible ways of giving effect to our manifesto commitment to British citizens overseas.