§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend that postal voting for disabled persons be allowed for parish council elections.
§ Mr. MayhewWe have invited the National Association of Local Councils to give us information about the feasibility and costs of providing absent voting facilities at parish and community council elections.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to introduce a system for postal or proxy voting for those confined at home or in hospital during the last two weeks of an election campaign.
§ Mr. MayhewWe are examining the timetable for absent voting to see whether there is any scope for bringing the closing date for receipt of applications for absent votes 15W nearer polling day. The closing date has, however, to be set sufficiently in advance of polling day to allow postal ballot papers to be sent out and returned before the close of poll.