§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charges he proposes introducing in the method of registration for electoral purposes of 956W Service personnel and their spouses so that spouses are not dependent on serving members of the Armed Forces for registration and no indication is given on the electoral register that they are a Service family; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe present arrangements for the electoral registration of members of the Armed Forces and their wives derive from the Representation of the People (Armed Forces) Act 1976, which followed the recommendations of a Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law. In consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, I shall keep these arrangements under review to see if improvements can be made, but I have no plans for further legislation at present.