§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to issue a commencement order under the Representation of the People Act 1985; and to which electoral register he expects the new provisions for absent voters to relate.
§ Mr. MellorWe intend to make a further commencement order under the Representation of the People Act 1985 as soon as the draft Representation of the People Regulations 1986, which are now before Parliament, have been approved. We expect the new provisions on absent voting to come into force on 1 January next year for the purpose of any election falling on or after 16 February 1987, the date when the next electoral register comes into force.