§ Mr. F. GRAYasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the last day for lodging claims for inclusion in the autumn register is the 10th of August, he can now say whether women heads of colleges and other women, 30 years of age, who have, for the whole of the qualifying period, occupied land or premises forming part of the University of Oxford, or are the wives of men who have so occupied such premises, are qualified to be registered as Parliamentary electors; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what, steps to remove any special disability which prevents such women being entitled to the Parliamentary franchise as the same is now enjoyed by men occupiers of similar property and by women who are in similar circumstances in all respects except that the premises occupied by them or their husbands does not form part of the University?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMy right hon. Friend has now made inquiries into this matter and finds that a technical difficulty, in the way of the registration of certain women, wives of heads of houses and others, as Parliamentary electors, has arisen as the result of the provisions of an old local Act. He proposes to exercise the power conferred on him by the Sixth Schedule of the Act of 1918 to remove the difficulty The Order will be issued immediately, and the registration officer for Oxford has been so informed.