HC Deb 04 May 1989 vol 152 c210W
Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage change in the numbers on local government electoral registers between 1987 and 1989 in(a) Edinburgh city and (b) Glasgow city; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I refer the hon. Member to table 3 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys "Monitor EL87/1" and to table 1 in the "Monitor EL89/ I", from which the percentage changes may be derived. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage change in the numbers on parliamentary electoral registers between 1987 and 1989 in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The change was 4.1 per cent. in Aberdeen, 2.2 per cent. in Dundee, 2.4 per cent. in Edinburgh and 4.4 per cent. in Glasgow.

Mr. Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire North-East of 27 April, if he will list the estimated percentages of 16 and 17-year-olds missing from electoral registers as potential first-time voters in each constituency in Scotland in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Information in the form requested is not available because population estimates are not calculated on a constituency basis. The estimated percentages for Scotland as a whole in 1987, 1988 and 1989 were 26, 27 and 26, respectively.

Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East of 27 April, whether he has any plans to increase the percentage of 16 and 17-year-olds whose names are included as potential voters on electoral registers in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee;

(2) what plans he has to improve electoral registration in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Lord James Douglas Hamilton

The preparation of electoral registers is the statutory duty of the electoral registration officers for the areas concerned. My right hon. and learned Friend is confident that their aim is to produce as comprehensive and accurate a register as possible, and proposes to support them as before with appropriate publicity campaigns.