asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the approximate tonnage of paper that would be saved if arrangements were made at the forthcoming General Election to enable returning officers to issue one poll card on behalf of all candidates standing in each constituency.
While the tonnage of paper which would be saved if arrangements were made to enable returning officers to send out a single poll card on behalf of all candidates standing in each constituency can only be determined approximately, I am informed that it would be small and is in any case a part of the tonnage allocated to candidates. Apart from the fact that it would require legislation I am satisfied that in existing circumstances the issue of a poll card by returning officers would not be practicable having regard to the very limited staff at their disposal and the very heavy work which will fall on them at this General Election.