Representation of the People (Extension of Voting Facilities) Bill

Part of Order of the Day – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 1965.

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Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Cardiff West 12:00, 12 February 1965

Thank you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. The hon. Gentleman would be right in his argument if we assumed that we had now had the detailed consideration of the problem which is being discussed. I do not accept that, after consideration by Mr. Speaker's conference, the parties concerned in the House will of necessity agree with the hon. and gallant Gentleman about the right way to tackle this problem. I am not saying it is not to be dealt with. I am saying that we are on the verge of a conference which we hope will have the distinguished chairmanship of Mr. Speaker. The last Speaker's conference reported within five months, and the House should remember that it dealt with a far more difficult electoral situation at the end of the war than we have now.

The House will be interested to know that postal voting at General Elections has been much of a pattern since 1950. In 1950, the proportion was 1·6 per cent. of the total vote; in 1951, 2·6 per cent.; in 1955, it was down to 2 per cent.; in 1959 it was 2·1 per cent.; and in 1964, 2·6 per cent.

The hon. and gallant Gentleman was right with his figures for the proportion of the votes cast. At the last General Election the poll was 77 per cent. of the total electorate; in 1959, it was 78·7 per cent.; in 1955, 76·7 per cent.; in 1951, 82·5 per cent.; and in 1950, 84 per cent. The facilities for absent voting were the same at all those elections. We all know that there are many other factors that decide the size of a poll at a General Election.