§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are taken by electoral registration officers to ensure that all people qualified to be electors are included on the electoral register; what staff and resources are provided for this purpose; and how often a full canvass is conducted for the purposes of updating the register.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA full canvass is conducted each year in the weeks leading up to the qualifying date of 10 October to update the electoral register. All reasonable steps are taken by means of door-to-door canvass or delivery of form A to each household to ensure that all those who are qualified to be electors are included on the electoral register. The onus rests on each householder, or person owning or occupying the premises, to provide the information required by the registration officer.
The staff and resources for this purpose are determined and provided by regional and islands area councils which appoint the registration officers.
§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official poll cards were returned to returning officers by the Post Office in each Scottish constituency of the recent general election either because of errors in the electoral register or because the electors had moved away.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis information is not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.