§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring into operation the provisions of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 in relation to the voting rights of certain residents of mental hospitals in time for any general election taking place on or after 5 May.
§ Mr. MayhewSection 69(5) of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 provides that those provisions of the Act which govern the electoral registration of voluntary patients resident in mental hospitals come into force on 1 April 1983. From that date, it will be open to such a patient to make a declaration with respect to the qualifying date, 10 October 1983, for inclusion in the register of electors which comes into force in February 1984. A patient who makes a declaration on or before 10 October 1983 will be entitled to vote at any election held on or after 16 February 1984. These provisions are not capable of enabling mental hospital patients not included in the current register of electors to vote at an election held during the period beginning 5 May 1983 and ending 15 February 1984.