§ Mr. CAIRNSasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that it is the practice in at least one constituency in the County of Northumberland for the agent of the Conservative party to be officially employed on the work of making up the registers; can he say if this person is paid for such work; and will he see that this practice is discontinued?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMy right hon. Friend has made inquiry into the circumstances referred to, which appear to relate to the Parliamentary Borough of Morpeth. He is informed by the Registration Officer that it transpired in the course of his recent revision sittings that the assistant overseer employed in the preparation of the Electors' Lists for1300W one district in the constituency was unofficially assisted by the agent of the Conservative party in the clerical work relating to the lists for a portion of that district. No objection was, however, taken at the revision by the agent of any political party to any name being omitted from or included in the lists. No payment was made for the assistance; and steps have been taken by the Registration Officer to prevent its repetition. My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe the occurrence to be otherwise than exceptional either in this or in any other constituency.