§ Mr. GULLANDasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that by the Second Schedule of the Order in Council of 4th June fees are prescribed for the sale of the new electoral registers, and that these charges are so high that the cost of a new constituency register will be about five times that of the old; and whether, in view of the decreased maximum of election expenses allowed to be spent by a candidate, he will consider the reduction of these fees?
§ Mr. STOKERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the scale of charges for the lists issued by the registration officer has been fixed; and, if not, whether due regard will be given to the scale fixed by the previous Acts of Parliament and by the Registration Order of 1895?
Mr. FISHERThe scale of fees for copies of lists, registers, etc., contained in the Order in Council referred to was, I understand, agreed to by the Treasury in consultation with the Stationery Office, and is based upon the general cost of production. It must be remembered that the present scale under the Parliamentary Voters Registration Act, 1843, was fixed by reference to a much smaller electorate, and that the cost of production at the present time is abnormally high. I will, however, bring the matter to the notice of my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury.