§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he made no arrangements to have an officer of his Department on duty at the Home Office on Saturday 31 March to answer urgent queries from returning officers in receipt of instructions from his Department concerning the forthcoming General Election specially delivered that morning.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesOfficers of my Department were available at their homes over the weekend to deal with matters of major importance, but I considered it inappropriate for detailed advice to be given to returning officers on the procedures for combined elections until hon. Members had had the opportunity of debating the Representation of the People Bill, introduced on, Friday.