§ Sir WILLOUGHBY DICKINSONasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will instruct returning officers at the next General Election to arrange for the fixture of polling compartments at polling stations on the basis of one for every 150 electors in accordance with the provisions of Rule 16 of the First Schedule of the Ballot Act, 1872?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERMy Department has been for some time in touch with the Office of Works with a view to the provision by that Department of a sufficient number of polling compartments. The acting returning officers have been communicated with as to their requirements and where it has appeared that the Rule referred to in the question has been overlooked the attention of the acting returning officer has already been drawn to the point. I may mention that there has been great difficulty in obtaining the supplies of timber and ironmongery needed for the construction of these compartments.