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Postal Voting

Volume 942: debated on Tuesday 17 January 1978

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington dated 4th

POSTAL VOTES CAST AT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, OCTOBER 1974
Postal votes cast as a percentage of
ConstituencyTotal electorateTotal votes cast
ENGLAND
Avon
Kingswood2·12·5
North Somerset3·13·9
South Gloucestershire2·02·5
Weston-Super-Mare2·73·6
Bath4·65·9
Bristol, North-East2·02·8
Bristol, North-West4·25·3
Bristol, South1·21·8
Bristol, South-East1·72·3
Bristol, West3·45·2
Bedfordshire
Bedford3·14·1
Mid-Bedfordshire2·53·2
South Bedfordshire2·53·2
Luton, East2·73·7
Luton, West2·43·2
Berkshire
Newbury2·43·2
Reading, South3·24·3
Windsor and Maidenhead2·02·9
Wokingham2·53·3
Eton and Slough1·62·3
Reading, North3·85·3
Buckinghamshire
Aylesbury2·73·7
Beaconsfield2·02·9
Buckingham3·94·9
Chesham and Amersham3·14·0
Wycombe2·43·2
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire2·33·0
Huntingdonshire2·63·5
Isle of Ely2·83·7
Cambridge3·95·6
Peterborough3·64·6

January 1978 on the subject of postal voting statistics, he will state the average percentage of posal votes cast as a percentage of total votes cast for all the United Kingdom's parliamentary constituencies; and indicate the two constituencies with the highest percentage figures.

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the contents of his letter to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington, dated 4th January 1978, detailing statistics relating to postal votes cast, at the General Election of October 1974, for the parliamentary constituencies of the United Kingdom.

The information is as follows. The percentage of postal votes cast as a percentage of total votes cast was highest in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and in Mid-Ulster.

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Cheshire

City of Chester2·93·8
Crewe1·31·8
Macclesfield2·53·2
Nantwich1·92·5
Newton1·31·7
NorthwichN.A.N.A.
Runcorn1·92·5
Widnes1·21·7
Warrington1·01·4

Cleveland

Cleveland and Whitby2·22·9
Hartlepool1·31·8
Teesside Middlesbrough1·22·0
Teesside, Redcar1·52·1
Teesside, Stockton1·21·7
Teesside. Thornaby2·23·0

Cornwall

Bodmin4·75·7
Falmouth and Camborne2·33·0
North Cornwall5·36·5
St. Ives2·73·6
Truro3·44·3

Cumbria

Penrith and the Border2·43·3
Westmorland2·23·0
Whitehaven1·72·2
Workington1·52·0
Barrow-in-Furness1·62·1
Carlisle3·74·7

Derbyshire

Belper2·22·7
Bolsover0·70·9
High Peak3·64·5
Ilkeston1·31·7
Derbyshire, North-East1·01·4
Derbyshire, South-East2·43·0
Derbyshire, West2·73·5
Chesterfield1·42·0
Derby, North2·12·9
Derby, South1·72·4

Devon

Honiton2·83·7
Devon, North4·55·6
Tiverton2·22·9
Totnes2·83·7
Devon, West.3·74·7
Exeter4·25·3
Plymouth, Devonport3·64·9
Plymouth, Drake3·44·6
Plymouth, Sutton2·83·8
Torbay2·73·7

Dorset

Dorset, North2·93·7
Dorset, SouthN.A.N.A.
Dorset, West3·34·2
Bournemouth, East2·02·8
Bournemouth, West2·02·9
Poole1·82·4

Durham

Bishop Auckland1·21·8
Chester-le-Street1·21·6
Consett0·91·3
Durham1·31·8
Easington0·71·0
North West Durham1·11·6
Darlington2·43·2

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

East Sussex

Eastbourne2·83·7
East Grinstead2·73·7
Lewes2·83·8
Rye2·63·5
Brighton, Kemptown2·53·5
Brighton, Pavilion2·02·9
Hastings2·63·6
Hove2·94·1

Essex

Braintree3·74·7
Brentwood and Ongar2·63·4
Chelmsford2·63·2
Colchester3·03·9
Epping Forest2·12·9
Harlow1·41·9
Harwich2·33·2
Maldon2·53·2
Saffron Walden4·05·2
South-East Essex1·62·1
Basildon1·72·4
Southend, East2·13·0
Southend, West2·12·9
Thurrock0·71·1

Gloucestershire

Cirencester and Tewkesbury2·12·7
Stroud2·73·4
West Gloucestershire2·12·6
Cheltenham2·93·9
Gloucester2·32·9

Greater London

Barking0·91·2
Barking, Dagenham0·61·0
Barnet, Chipping Barnet2·02·7
Barnet, Finchley2·02·8
Barnet, Hendon, North2·43·3
Barnet, Hendon, South2·13·1
Bexley, Bexleyheath2·22·9
Bexley, Erith and Crayford1·72·3
Bexley, Sidcup2·22·9
Brent, East1·52·4
Brent, North1·82·5
Brent, South1·22·0
Bromley, Beckenham2·53·7
Bromley, Chislehurst3·64·8
Bromley, Orpington3·13·9
Bromley, Ravensbourne2·53·4
Camden, Hampstead3·14·9
Camden, Holborn and St. Pancras South1·32·4
Camden, St. Pancras North1·72·9
Croydon, Central2·33·2
Croydon, North-East2·43·3
Croydon, North-West1·82·6
Croydon, South2·23·0
Ealing, Acton3·04·4
Ealing, North2·43·3
Ealing, Southall1·42·2
Enfield, Edmonton1·62·3
Enfield, North1·72·4
Enfield, Southgate2·03·0
Greenwich1·52·4
Greenwich, Woolwich, East1·62·4
Greenwich, Woolwich, West3·04·1
Hackney, Central0·91·6
Hackney, North and Stoke Newington1·02·0
Hackney, South and Shoreditch0·81·4
Hammersmith, Fulham2·63·7
Hammersmith, North2·03·1

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Haringey, Hornsey3·55·1
Haringey, Tottenham1·22·1
Haringey, Wood Green1·32·0
Harrow, Central2·53·4
Harrow, East2·63·5
Harrow, West2·23·0
Havering, Hornchurch1·31·8
Havering, Romford1·72·4
Havering, Upminster1·82·4
Hillingdon, Hayes and Harlington1·21·7
Hillingdon, Ruislip-Northwood2·02·8
Hillingdon, Uxbridge2·63·5
Hounslow, Brentford and Isleworth2·93·9
Hounslow, Feltham and Heston1·42·1
Islington, Central1·22·1
Islington, North1·22·3
Islington, South and Finsbury1·11·9
Kensington and Chelsea, Chelsea2·14·2
Kensington and Chelsea, Kensington2·64·6
Kingston upon Thames2·23·1
Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton2·02·7
Lambeth, Central1·22·2
Lambeth, Norwood2·23·5
Lambeth, Streatham2·43·8
Lambeth, Vauxhall1·02·0
Lewisham, Deptford1·42·4
Lewisham, East2·53·7
Lewisham, West2·73·9
Merton, Mitcham and Morden1·62·3
Merton, Wimbledon2·73·9
Newham, North-East0·71·1
Newham, North-West0·61·2
Newham, South0·40·7
Redbridge, Ilford, North1·72·2
Redbridge, Ilford, South2·23·2
Redbridge, Wanstead and Woodford1·82·7
Richmond upon Thames, Richmond2·63·4
Richmond upon Thames, Twickenham2·22·9
Southwark, Bermondsey0·71·2
Southwark, Dulwich2·23·4
Southwark, Peckham1·32·4
Sutton and Cheam3·24·2
Sutton, Carshalton2·33·1
Tower Hamlets, Bethnal Green and Bow0·50·9
Tower Hamlets, Stepney and Poplar0·51·1
Waltham Forest, Chingford1·62·2
Waltham Forest, Leyton1·22·0
Waltham Forest, Walthamstow1·21·9
Wandsworth, Battersea, North1·32·2
Wandsworth, Battersea, South2·94·5
Wandsworth, Putney3·44·7
Wandsworth, Tooting2·03·1
The City of London and Westminster, South2·03·7
City of Westminster, Paddington2·13·5
City of Westminster, St. Marylebone1·93·3

Greater Manchester

Heywood and Roy ton1·72·2
Knutsford2·43·1
Stalybridge and Hyde1·41·9
Westhoughton1·31·6
Altrincham and Sale2·12·8
Ashton-under-Lyne1·52·1
Bolton, East2·93·8
Bolton, West3·03·9
Bury and Radcliffe2·63·3
Cheadle2·83·5
Eccles1·01·4
Farnworth1·01·4
Hazel Grove2·83·4

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Ince0·60·8
Leigh0·91·2
Manchester, Ardwick1·11·9
Manchester, Blackley2·53·5
Manchester, Central0·61·1
Manchester, Gorton1·31·8
Manchester, Moss Side2·33·7
Manchester, Openshaw1·01·6
Manchester, Withington2·13·1
Manchester, Wythenshawe1·92·7
Middleton and Prestwich2·43·2
Oldham, East2·02·8
Oldham, West1·72·4
Rochdale2·13·1
Salford, East1·52·6
Salford, West1·21·8
Stockport, North2·63·4
Stockport, South2·02·8
Stretford2·33·0
Wigan0·91·2

Hampshire

Aldershot2·33·1
Basingstoke1·92·5
Eastleigh2·32·9
New Forest1·82·5
Petersfield2·73·6
Winchester3·04·0
Christchurch and Lymington2·22·9
Fareham1·92·4
Gosport2·53·4
Havant and Waterloo2·02·7
Portsmouth, North3·74·8
Portsmouth, South2·43·5
Southampton, Itchen1·62·3
Southampton, Test2·33·2

Hereford and Worcester

Bromsgrove and Redditch2·32·9
Hereford2·73·6
Kidderminster1·72·3
Leominster3·64·5
South Worcestershire2·33·1
Worcester2·02·8

Hertfordshire

East Hertfordshire2·02·8
Hemel Hempstead3·34·0
Hertford and Stevenage2·33·0
Hitchin3·44·2
St. Albans3·14·1
Hertfordshire, South2·02·6
Hertfordshire, South-West2·43·1
Welwyn and Hatfield3·03·7
Watford3·34·2

Humberside

Bridlington1·52·2
Brigg and Scunthorpe1·31·8
Haltemprice1·72·3
Howden1·52·0
Louth2·02·7
Grimsby1·42·1
Kingston upon Hull, Central2·03·0
Kingston upon Hull, East0·60·9
Kingston upon Hull, West0·81·2

Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight2·83·7

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Kent

Ashford2·83·8
Canterbury2·73·7
Dartford2·53·2
Dover and Deal4·86·1
Faversham3·54·5
Folkestone and Hythe2·23·2
Gravesend2·73·5
Maidstone2·23·0
Royal Tunbridge Wells2·63·6
Sevenoaks3·04·0
Tonbridge and Mailing2·53·4
Gillingham2·43·1
Rochester and Chatham2·73·7
Thanet, East2·43·4
Thanet, West2·73·9

Lancashire

Chorley2·73·4
Clitheroe2·22·8
Darwen2·73·6
Lancaster3·13·9
Morecambe and Lonsdale2·02·7
North Fylde1·42·0
Ormskirk1·31·8
South Fylde1·72·4
Accrington3·44·2
Blackburn2·83·8
Blackpool, North1·72·4
Blackpool, South1·92·7
Burnley1·62·1
Nelson and Colne4·05·0
Preston, North2·43·1
Preston, South2·22·9
Rossendale3·34·1

Leicestershire

Blaby1·72·1
Bosworth1·72·1
Harborough2·22·9
Loughborough2·63·3
Melton1·92·5
Leicester, East1·52·1
Leicester, South1·92·8
Leicester, West1·82·6

Lincolnshire

Gainsborough2·23·0
Grantham2·83·8
Holland with Boston1·52·2
Horncastle2·33·2
Rutland and Stamford2·73·6
Lincoln2·93·9

Merseyside

Huyton1·01·5
Wirral2·02·6
Benington and Ellesmere Port1·62·1
Birkenhead1·42·2
Bootle0·81·2
Crosby1·82·5
Liverpool, Edge Hill0·71·2
Liverpool, Garston1·41·9
Liverpool, Kirkdale0·81·2
Liverpool, Scotland Exchange0·51·0
Liverpool, Toxteth1·52·5
Liverpool, Walton1·01·5
Liverpool, Wavertree1·42·0
Liverpool, West Derby1·01·5
St. Helens0·81·2
Southport2·53·4
Wallasey212·8

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Norfolk

North Norfolk3·14·1
North West Norfolk3·84·8
South Norfolk3·04·0
South West Norfolk4·05·2
Yarmouth2·23·0
Norwich, North3·14·4
Norwich, South4·76·0

Northamptonshire

Daventry2·22·9
Kettering1·31·8
Wellingborough2·73·4
Northampton, North2·53·3
Northampton, South3·14·1

Northumberland

Berwick-upon-Tweed6·27·7
Hexham3·03·9
Morpeth1·21·6
Blyth0·91·2

North Yorkshire

Harrogate3·34·7
Richmond (Yorkshire)1·72·6
Ripon4·15·2
Scarborough1·92·9
Skipton2·93·5
Thirsk and Malton2·02·8
York2·63·4

Nottinghamshire

Ashfield0·81·1
Bassetlaw1·52·0
Beeston2·83·5
Carlton1·92·4
Mansfield1·01·4
Newark2·43·1
Rushcliffe3·04·0
Nottingham, East2·64·4
Nottingham, North1·72·5
Nottingham West1·52·1

Oxfordshire

Abingdon2·53·3
Banbury2·43·2
Henley2·53·4
Mid-Oxen2·22·9
Oxford4·05·6

Salop

Ludlow2·43·2
Oswestry2·02·9
Shrewsbury2·83·9
The Wrekin2·43·2

Somerset

Bridgwater2·93·8
Taunton3·74·6
Wells2·73·4
Yeovil2·83·5

South Yorkshire

Dearne Valley0·71·0
Don Valley0·91·2
Goole1·42·1
Penistone1·01·3
Rother Valley0·50·8
Barnsley0·81·1
Doncaster2·53·4
Rotherham0·71·1
Sheffield, Attercliffe1·01·4
Sheffield, Brightside1·01·5
Sheffield, Hallam2·43·4
Sheffield, Heeley1·72·4
Sheffield, Hillsborough1·42·1
Sheffield, Park1·01·6

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Staffordshire

Burton2·43·1
Cannock1·41·8
Leek1·82·3
Lichfield and Tamworth1·62·0
South-West Staffordshire1·52·0
Stafford and Stone2·02·7
Newcastle under Lyme2·02·6
Stoke-on-Trent, Central0·61·0
Stoke-on-Trent, North0·60·8
Stoke-on-Trent, South0·70·9

Suffolk

Bury St. Edmunds2·53·4
Eye3·03·9
Lowestoft3·03·8
Sudbury and Woodbridge2·93·9
Ipswich3·44·4

Surrey

Dorking2·12·8
East Surrey2·93·8
Farnham3·03·9
Guildford2·94·0
North-West Surrey2·13·0
Woking2·53·4
Chertsey and Walton2·43·2
Epsom and Ewell2·53·4
Esher2·43·3
Reigate2·83·7
Spelthorne1·72·3

Tyne and Wear

Houghton-le-Spring0·60·8
Blaydon0·60·9
Gateshead, East0·71·0
Gateshead, West0·61·0
Jarrow1·31·8
Newcastle upon Tyne, Central1·01·7
Newcastle upon Tyne, East1·42·0
Newcastle upon Tyne, North3·04·7
Newcastle upon Tyne, West1·62·3
South Shields0·81·3
Sunderland, North1·01·5
Sunderland, South1·62·3
Tynemouth1·62·2
Wallsend0·81·1

Warwickshire

Rugby2·63·3
Stratford-on-Avon2·02·8
Warwick and Leamington2·63·5
Nuneaton1·11·5

West Midlands

Meriden1·72·3
Aldridge-Brownhills1·62·0
Birmingham, Edgbaston1·93·0
Birmingham, Erdington1·11·7
Birmingham, Hall Green 1·62·2
Birmingham, Handsworth1·52·3
Birmingham, Ladywood1·62·9
Birmingham, Northfield1·72·5
Birmingham, Perry Bar1·01·4
Birmingham, Selly Oak2·53·7
Birmingham, Small Heath1·01·7
Birmingham, Sparkbrook0·81·4
Birmingham, Stechford1·11·7
Birmingham, Yardley1·41·9
Coventry, North-East0·81·2
Coventry, North-West1·52·0
Coventry, South-East1·11·6
Coventry, South-West1·92·4

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Dudley, East1·42·1
Dudley, West1·62·1
Halesowen and Stourbridge1·72·2
Solihull2·22·9
Sutton Coldfield2·23·0
Walsall, North0·60·9
Walsall, South2·02·8
Warley, East1·31·9
Warley, West0·81·1
West Bromwich, East1·11·7
West Bromwich, West0·60·9
Wolverhampton, North-East0·71·0
Wolverhampton, South-East0·60·9
Wolverhampton, South-West2·23·d

West Sussex

Arundel2·12·9
Chichester2·73·8
Horsham and Crawley2·53·2
Mid-Sussex2·43·2
Shoreham2·12·8
Worthing2·83·9

West Yorkshire

Barkston Ash2·02·6
Colne Valley.2·93·5
Hemsworth1·21·7
Normanton0·40·6
Shipley3·03·7
Sowerby3·03·8
Batley and Morley1·31·8
Bradford, North 1·72·4
Bradford, South1·62·3
Bradford, West 2·23·2
Brighouse and Spenborough3·03·8
Dewsbury1·62·3
Halifax2·53·4
Huddersfield, East1·92·7
Huddersfield, West2·73·6
Keighley3·74·4
Leeds, East1·11·7
Leeds, North-East2·63·9
Leeds, North-West2·23·4
Leeds, South1·01·6
Leeds, South-East1·22·2
Leeds, West1·31·8
Pontefract and Castleford0·71·0
Pudsey2·73·4
Wakefield.1·31·9

Wiltshire

Chippenham3·14·0
DevizesN.A.N.A.
Salisbury2·73·7
Westbury2·93·6
Swindon2·23·0
WALES

Clwyd

Denbigh2·63·5
East Flint2·02·5
West Flint2·12·8
Wrexham1·21·6

Dyfed

Cardigan4·45·5
Carmarthen5·46·4
Llanelli1·82·3
Pembroke 3·44·3

Postal votes cast us a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Gwent

Abertillery0·81·1
Bedwellty1·41·8
Ebbw Vale1·52·0
Monmouth2·93·7
Pontypool0·91·2
Newport1·52·0

Gwynedd

Anglesey3·85·1
Caernarvon4·65·7
Conway3·44·5
Merioneth6·67·9

Mid Glamorgan

Caerphilly1·31·7
Ogmore1·41·9
Pontypridd1·21·6
Aberdare2·02·5
Merthyr Tydfil2·12·8
Rhondda2·93·8

Powys

Brecon and Radnor3·74·5
Montgomery4·45·6

South Glamorgan

Barry2·53·2
Cardiff, North2·63·6
Cardiff, North-West2·22·8
Cardiff, South-East1·62·2
Cardiff, West1·62·3

West Glamorgan

Aberavon1·21·7
Gower1·82·3
Neath1·62·0
Swansea, East1·01·5
Swansea, West2·33·0
SCOTLAND

Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire East2·53·5
Aberdeenshire, West2·73·6
Aberdeen, North1·31·9
Aberdeen, South2·73·6

Angus and Kincardine

North Angus and Mearns2·43·3
South Angus2·33·1
Dundee, East2·12·9
Dundee, West1·92·5

Argyll

Argyll3·14·3

Ayrshire and Bute

Ayr2·63·3
Bute and North Ayrshire2·33·2
Central Ayrshire2·32·9
South Ayrshire1·92·5
Kilmarnock1·41·7

Banffshire

Banff4·66·3

Berwick and East Lothian

Berwick and East Lothian3·74·5

Caithness and Sutherland

Caithness and Sutherland4·65·9

Dumfriesshire

Dumfries2·83·7

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

Dunbartonshire

Central Dunbartonshire1·41·7
East Dunbartonshire1·92·3
West Dunbartonshire2·12·7

Fife

Central Fife1·01·3
East Fife2·73·7
Dunfermline Burghs1·62·1
Kirkcaldy Burghs1·41·9

Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty

Inverness2·94·2
Ross and Cromarty3·55·1
Western Isles2·64·0

Kirkcudbright and Wigtownshire

Galloway3·14·1

Lanarkshire

Bothwell0·81·1
East Kilbride0·91·2
Hamilton1·01·3
Lanark3·03·7
Motherwell and Wishaw0·71·0
North Lanarkshire1·31·7
Rutherglen1·519
Coatbridge and Airdrie0·71·0
Glasgow, Cathcart1·52·0
Glasgow, Central0·50·9
Glasgow, Craigton1·41·9
Glasgow, Garscadden0·71·0
Glasgow, Govan,1·2t·6
Glasgow, Hillhead1·92·6
Glasgow, Kelvingrove2·54·0
Glasgow, Maryhill0·81·1
Glasgow, Pollok1·82·5
Glasgow, Provan0·50·7
Glasgow, Queen's Park0·81·2
Glasgow, Shettleston0·50·8
Glasgow, Springburn0·71·1

Midlothian

Midlothian1·41·8
Edinburgh, Central2·53·7
Edinburgh, East1·92·5
Edinburgh, Leith1·62·2
Edinburgh, North2·43·5
Edinburgh, Pentlands2·33·1
Edinburgh, South2·73·6
Edinburgh, West2·02·7

Moray and Nairnshire

Moray and Nairn3·95·2

Orkney and Zetland

Orkney and Zetland4·06·0
Perthshire and Kinross-shire
Kinross and West Perthshire3·44·5
Perth and East Perthshire2·23·0

Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire, East1·72·2
Renfrewshire, West2·12·7
Greenock and Port Glasgow1·21·8
Paisley1·01·4

Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Peebleshire

Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles3·84·9

Stirling and Clackmannanshire

Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire1·41·7
West Stirling2·02·5
Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth1·62·1

West Lothian

West Lothian1·21·5

Postal votes cast as a percentage of

Constituency

Total electorate

Total votes cast

NORTHERN IRELAND
North Antrim1·52·7
South Antrim1·11·9
Armagh2·74·0
North Down1·62·7
South Down4·05·5
Fermanagh and South Tyrone12·514·2
Mid-Ulster9·311·8
Londonderry3·75·4
Belfast, East1·21·9
Belfast, North1·52·3
Belfast, South1·42·1
Belfast, West0·91·3
UNITED KINGDOM TOTAL*2·12·9

* Excluding 3 constituencies which did not submit postal vote returns