§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce electronic systems for counting ballot papers at election counts.
Mr. MaclennamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the introduction of a mechanised voting system for public elections on a trial basis at specified locations.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe have set up a working group of local authority representatives and Home Office officials as part of our post-election review to look at the implications of introducing procedures for automated vote counting. We shall consider the working group's recommendations once it has reported its findings. We have no plans to introduce an automated voting system.