HC Deb 26 June 1978 vol 952 cc430-2W
Mr. MacCormick

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many United Kingdom Service personnel are considered to be domiciled in Scotland; and how many Scottish-domiciled Service personnel and their spouses, are stationed (a) outwith Scotland and (b) outwith the United Kingdom;

(2) what proportion of Service personnel and their spouses, with a Scottish domicile, is represented by the figure of 15,240 Service voters in Scotland, which is given in the OPCS Monitor (Reference EL 78/1).

Dr. Gilbert

It is not possible to say how many Service personnel and their spouses look upon Scotland as their domicile but the number of Service personnel stationed there at 31st December 1977 was 19,465.

Service personnel and their spouses may exercise a certain amount of choice over where they register as Service voters and a single declaration suffices for the duration of the Service career. A number of the 15,240 Service voters registered in Scotland will probably be living elsewhere in the United Kingdom or overseas but it is not practicable to say how many. Others may be diplomats, civil servants, members of the British Council or their spouses who also qualify as Service voters when serving overseas.

Mr. MacCormick

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that adequate provision has been made to allow all Scottish-domiciled Service personnel and their spouses to vote in General Elections, by-elections and national referenda.

Service Casualties Civilian Casualties
Date Aircraft Parent Service Killed Serious Injury Killed Serious Injury
20th March 1977 Wessex 5 RN
29th March 1977 Wasp RN
29th March 1977 Chipmunk Army
4th April 1977 Buccaneer RAF 2
5th April 1977 Wasp RN
26th April 1977 Sea King RN
30th April 1977 Jet Provost RAF 1
3rd May 1977 Canberra RAF 2 3 2
13th May 1977 Hunter RAF
17th May 1977 Phantom RN 1
13th June 1977 Gazelle (2 aircraft) RN 3
14th June 1977 Jaguar RAF 1
29th July 1977 Jaguar RAF 2
15th August 1977 Canberra RAF 2
18th August 1977 Buccaneer RAF
8th September 1977 Hunter RAF
29th September 1977 Wasp RN
25th October 1977 Harrier RAF
23rd October 1977 Sea King RN
25th October 1977 Sea King RN
31st October 1977 Buccaneer RAF 1
5th December 1977 Wessex RAF
12th January 1978 Phantom RAF
23rd January 1978 Jet Provost RAF
30th January 1978 Puma RAF 3
7th February 1978 Gazelle Army
16th February 1978 Bulldog RAF
17th February 1978 Gazelle Army 1 2

Dr. Gilbert

All Service personnel and their spouses who are registered as Service voters may vote in person or by proxy in parliamentary and local government elections or in referenda taking place in their constituency, wherever they may be living. In certain circumstances they may vote by post.