Clause 6 - Combination of polls
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
5:30 pm
Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West, Conservative)
No. In fact, it is the opposite. When we are informed by opinion polls that a certain number of people believe a certain proposition, it does not tell us very much. It is in the week before the pollster asks them their opinion that we need to know when they last thought about the proposition or when it last crossed their minds. Something may not occur to someone, but if it is for free, they will say that they want it too. That does not measure particularly well the strength of support for a particular proposition. According to the Bill, the Secretary of State must arrive at an estimate of the strength of feeling on and support for the issue. The tick in the box does not provide the right measure if it arrives there because the voter went to the poll that day for another reason.