Mr Donald Somervell: The Speaker's Conference recommended that persons physically incapacitated shall be allowed to vote by post at a Parliamentary election. It is impossible in the time available to pass the legislation which would be necessary for this and other recommendations of the Speaker's Conference.
Mr Donald Somervell: I am afraid that would be impossible. We cannot make alterations at this stage.
Mr Donald Somervell: Of course, transport facilities can be arranged under the existing procedure, but I do not think the State could do that.
Mr Donald Somervell: No, I do not think I could give an explanation.
Mr Donald Somervell: I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Greenock (Mr. McNeil) on 6th June.
Mr Donald Somervell: The circumstances leading up to this tragic affair are clearly described in the Report which is now in the hands of hon. Members, and it is unnecessary for me to summarise the conclusions at which Sir Walter Monckton arrived. It is evident that the arrangements made by the two local authorities for the care of the boys concerned were seriously defective, but it is only fair to add that Sir...
Mr Donald Somervell: Of course, the education authorities are very much concerned. I will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said.
Mr Donald Somervell: I think that is the effect of my answer.
Mr Donald Somervell: I think the right hon. Member must have in mind two quite separate incidents. On the afternoon of 3rd June, a house in Finchley was entered and jewellery was stolen of an estimated value of £14,000. Some furs and a safe containing documents and £3,000 in cash were also stolen. On the night of 5th–6th June, four men attacked the watchman at a warehouse in Watford and tied him up. They then...
Mr Donald Somervell: They were in a warehouse in Watford.
Mr Donald Somervell: The demands that have been made on the police and those who have joined the police forces have been very great indeed, and the police have had great difficulties to meet. I fully agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that the question of recruiting-younger men to the police forces is very important, and it is a matter which we have under very active consideration.
Mr Donald Somervell: Yes, Sir. I am glad to say that the war-time restrictions on the liberty to resign of part-time special constables and part-time members of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps and the police auxiliary messenger service will come to an end on the 1st July. This does not mean that there will be no further need for the help of special constables. Such help will still be wanted, and I am confident...
Mr Donald Somervell: I am not sure that I quite follow the hon. Member. This applies to part-time special constables, and to part-time members of the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps and the Police Auxiliary Messenger Service.
Mr Donald Somervell: This was one of the constituencies which was discussed on one of the preliminary lists, and we did our best to find out what were the facts.
Mr Donald Somervell: No, it was discussed with the hon. Gentleman and the people locally. In dealing with this prob- lem we have had our difficulties and we have done our best. Our information was that the numbers affected were considerably less than those which the right hon. Gentleman has given. It is a large-ish electorate; there would be a number of people away on the 12th July as well as on the 5th July,...
Mr Donald Somervell: I should be sorry if I got into controversy with any hon. Gentleman in any part of the Committee over this matter. I entirely agree with what has been said that no one in dealing with this difficult problem has been actuated by any party motive. But the other point that I have had in mind in trying to deal with it is, that, though we had consulted town clerks and members of this House, I felt...
Mr Donald Somervell: No. There was an unofficial list of Members who were communicated with who represented seats as to which we had information that there might be a big holiday on 5th July. In many cases the investigations resulted in what my hon. and gallant Friend had told us happened in Newport, that although there was a holiday and you could pick out the works whose employees would be away on 5th July, when...
Mr Donald Somervell: I am talking about the Amendment. I said last night that Coventry raises quite a different problem. So far as Newport is concerned, I hope the Committee will agree with what my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newport has said. It was the view which we had come to. He has amplified the evidence, and I am extremely grateful to him for the assistance he gave us and the assistance he has...
Mr Donald Somervell: I beg to move, That the Electoral Registration(No. 2) Regulations, 1945, dated 29th May, 1945, made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department under the Parliamentary Electors (War-Time Registration) Acts, 1943 and 1944, and the Representation of the People Act, 1945, a copy of which Regulations was presented on 30th May, be approved. These Regulations are submitted in accordance with...
Mr Donald Somervell: I am not sure I follow the hon. Member. This started in the May register, which is the one which is now operative. We then had to ask everybody to apply. There were some cases where applications were not received in time. We are now dealing with October, and there will be already on the existing May register a number of people who have been registered in respect of business premises. The...