§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the clarity and intelligibility of the forms for absent voting and with the workability of the altered procedures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are satisfied of the workability of the new procedures for absent voting, which were drawn up after full consultation, and of the clarity and intelligibility of the forms, which reflect the requirements of the representation of the people regulations. We shall review both in the light of experience.
§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he expects the new procedures for absent voting to produce in the numbers of absent voters being registered and entitled to vote at local and parliamentary elections; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe expect the new procedures to lead to an increase in the number of people who are entitled to an absent vote at any particular parliamentary or local election, since for the first time holidaymakers and anyone else who is unable to vote in person on the date of the poll will qualify for an absent vote.