§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the poor electoral response for registration purposes of those in 18–21 year old range; and what additional publicity he proposes to undertake in the period to 16th December when the list must be examined for final inclusion.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now give a general direction to the Post Office Board to have special notices put up in post offices reminding young people of the age at which they should register and the steps they should take.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now take steps to have special notices put up in offices of his Department used by the general public reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, she will now take steps to have special notices put up in offices of her Department used by the general public reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now take steps to have special notices put up in schools and colleges reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will in- 390W struct electoral registration officers to organise house to house canvasses and to make full use of available statistics such as school records in order to find these missing young voters.
§ Mr. CallaghanI have been asked to reply to these Questions.
An intensive publicity campaign is now taking place in the Press, both national and local, for the period in which claims and objections in respect of the electors lists can be made. This emphasises, especially in relation to those between 16½ and 21, the importance of checking before 16th December that the names of all those entitled to vote will be included in the register. There has also been publicity on television and radio, and this will continue. Electoral registration officers have deployed much effort and ingenuity in fulfilling their statutory duty to publish, in the way best calculated to bring to the attention of the electors, a notice explaining how and by what date claims and objections can be made. I shall be making a Ministerial broadcast on television on Monday.