Clause 7 - Encouraging voting
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
6:45 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
Did I hear the hon. Gentleman correctly? Is he seeking to withdraw amendments Nos. 32 and 33? I am curious because even assuming that the amendments are not freestanding and are consequential—amendment No. 32 would leave out ''voting'' and insert ''participating'' and amendment No. 33 would provide that abstention should be treated as an act of participation—the hon. Gentleman would be asking the Electoral Commission to encourage abstention. Is that right?