To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he expects the percentage change to be of the number of people on the electoral register in Scotland for each of the next five years.

Forecasts of the numbers on the electoral register are not prepared on a

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state (a) the number of people on the current electoral register and (b) the number of people on the electoral register at the last general election.

The Scottish register published last month contained 3,967,377 names, as compared with 3,994,893 in February 1987. Records of additions to the register between February 1987 and the general election were not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State For Scotland if he will publish a table indicating the percentage change in the number of people on the electoral register in Scotland between (a) October 1974 and May 1979, (b) May 1979 and June 1983, (c) June 1983 and June 1987 and (d) June 1987 and February 1988; and if he will make a statement.

The percentages in the table are based on the number of electors on the registers published in February of each year referred to. Since 1981 it has been possible for names to be added to the register each month but records of such additions have not been kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing for each Scottish constituency the numerical and percentage change of the number of people on the electoral register between June 1987 and February 1988.

Records were not kept centrally of additions to the 1987 register following its publication in February of that year. The following table compares the registers published in February 1987 and February 1988.