HC Deb 04 June 1964 vol 695 cc185-6W
19. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the present system for compiling the Electoral Register is comprehensive; and if he will institute a thorough follow-up system by local electoral officers to include residents whose names may have been inadvertently omitted by a house occupier.

Mr. Woodhouse

The small percentage of omissions from the register suggests that the present system is as comprehensive as possible. If more people would take advantage of their opportunity to inspect the electors' lists while they are on public display between 28th November and 16th December each year the percentage would be still further reduced.

20. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the percentage of people entitled to be included who are left off the Electoral Register each time it is newly compiled.

Mr. Woodhouse

A sample study by the Social Survey Division of the Central Office of Information carried out in 1950 found that, of the persons entitled to be registered as electors, the number included in the register for that year represented some 96 per cent. I have no more recent information.