asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1949, to allow long-stay patients in hospitals to be included in the current electoral register, as the present law concerning residents is out of keeping with the spirit of the Mental Health Act and against the principles of community responsibility and care.

As I said in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 27th May, this is a matter within the terms of reference of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Could she give an indication when the Speaker's Conference will give some guidance on this matter, because it is causing a considerable amount of concern?

I can well understand the anxiety of my hon. Friend, but it is not for me to say when the Speaker's Conference will report on this particular aspect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take the necessary steps to provide a postal vote in local and Parliamentary elections to members of religious organisations whose religious beliefs prevent them from voting in person on the day of the poll.

The Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Rules in the Representation of the People Act, 1949, contain special provisions for Jews to have their votes recorded at a poll taken on a Saturday. If the hon. Member has any other point in mind and will let me know, I shall be glad to look into it.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the arrangements which she has described are not, in fact, achieving their object? Is she aware that rabbis in certain parts of the country are now instructing their congregations that it would be a breach of their faith to vote in this way? Is she further aware that in some areas—my own in particular, in Gatley—this resulted in large numbers of people abstaining from voting in the recent local elections? Will she, therefore, reconsider this matter?

This difficulty would apply to an election held on a Saturday when sundown occurred before polling closed. As the hon. Gentleman is probably aware, I have for 21 years represented in this House a considerable number of Jews, who have never raised this point with me. However, if there is a difficulty I will certainly look into it.

Would my right hon. Friend take into consideration the fact that if an election is held on a Saturday, which is the sabbath not only for Jews but for a number of Sabbatarians, an orthodox person could not possibly go to a polling station before sundown and—

Order. The hon. Gentleman must be brief.

Would my right hon. Friend say that she will consider the possibility of not holding elections on Saturdays throughout the country or in any part of the country?

I could not go as far as that, but I will undertake to see if it is possible to overcome any difficulties which may exist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations led him to exclude an amalgamation of the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police from his police amalgamation schemes announced to Parliament on 18th May.

The power contained in the Police Act, 1964, to amalgamate police areas applies to counties and county boroughs and does not extend to the Metropolitan Police District or the City of London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement with regard to the outcome of his discussions with local authorities concerning the reorganisation of civil defence.

I cannot yet add to the statement which I made to the House on 2nd February.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is now nearly a year since a major reorganisation in civil defence was first announced and it is six months since he said that discussions with local authorities would take place forthwith? Does he not appreciate the very real effect on morale among voluntary workers which this continuing delay and frustration has?

It is not six months, it is four months and these discussions are proceeding actively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the film, "The War Game", has created the impression that civil defence would be ineffective in the event of atomic warfare; what steps he is taking to correct this impression; and if he will make a statement.

The film deals mainly with the situation in an area subjected to direct attack by nuclear weapons. No one has suggested that civil defence measures could prevent widespread death and injury in the immediate vicinity of an attack. The Government consider, however, that general adoption of efficient and sensible preparations could do much to save lives, relieve suffering, and help the nation to survive. That is why we are maintaining a limited but effective civil defence programme.

I am very grateful for that reply. The Home Secretary's statement will help to set people's minds at rest.

Does the Home Secretary, as a literary gentleman, agree with Emile Zola who said that the truth must out? Would it not be better for the human race if the truth came out now rather than after we and our children have been incinerated? More particularly, would it not be better if it were made known through the medium of television so that people could be stirred against this danger?

I have no desire and have taken no steps to prevent the truth coming out, either in this or in any other matter. I am merely pointing out that the film deals with the situation in the immediate vicinity of an attack, where the results would undoubtedly be appalling. There might be a different situation some distance from the attack, and it is the duty of the Government to take that into account.

Is the Home Secretary aware—he probably is not—that I have been trying to obtain a copy of the script of this film from the B.B.C. so that I can study it and that the B.B.C. has steadfastly refused to allow me to have one? Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the B.B.C. to let him have a copy so that he can place it in the Library and we can all study it?

The hon. Gentleman will surely be aware that relations with the B.B.C. are not a matter for me.

Will my right hon. Friend indicate to the House on what evidence he bases his claim that civil defence will be effective in a nuclear war?

I am basing my claim on the view that in areas some distance from the immediate scene of attack it is undoubtedly the case that reasonable measures could help the nation to survive and greatly relieve suffering. Nothing I am saying or doing means that we in any way underestimate the severe effects of such an attack or that we shall abate our efforts to avoid one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to control and license clubs which cause a nuisance to local residents and others.

My right hon. Friend cannot hold out a prospect of Government legislation on this subject in the present Session. The hon. Member will, however, be aware that a Bill to provide for the registration and control of unlicensed clubs has been introduced by the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Miscampbell).

Is the Minister aware that, while there are many towns still free from them, these disreputable clubs have spread very much in Birmingham and unless the matter is treated with some urgency they will become widespread? It is a very serious matter.

I fully agree with the hon. Member and we hope that something will be done. As he will know, some towns and cities have taken steps to tackle this problem by Private Bills, but if a Bill is passed by this House it will not be necessary to introduce local Private Bills.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us on both sides of the House think that the time is long overdue when we should take very drastic action by legislation to root out many of these rat-holes which are infesting the country? Is she aware that I will give the utmost support for the provision of any Parliamentary time, even if it means extra sittings, to deal with this matter, because it is a social evil which was not anticipated by this or the previous Government, and urgent legislation is necessary and demanded by many people whom I represent in this House?

I am sure that my hon. Friend has voiced the feelings of a great many hon. Members on both sides of the House. It may be that when the Private Member's Bill comes before the House it will receive a substantial Second Reading vote.

Is not the right hon. Lady aware that this matter has caused such deep concern that the Lord Chief Justice himself has introduced legislation in another place? What is holding up the affording of facilities by the Government for his Bill or the Private Member's Bill which has been referred to? Surely it is a sufficiently important matter to take precedence over many other items in the Government's programme?

The right hon. and learned Member will appreciate that the allocation of time is not a matter for me, but we know that this is a very urgent problem. It has been for some years and it seems to have been getting rather worse recently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now seek to extend the Hackney Carriage Acts to London, Heathrow, Airport, in view of the charges being made by taxis to and from London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to abolish the six-mile taximeter limit on London taxicabs.

The Government intend, when time permits, to introduce legislation to extend the control of fares for taxi journeys beyond the current six mile limit to include all journeys within the Metropolitan Police District, including those to or from London Airport.

I am very grateful for that assurance. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the taxi union has brought pressure on a group of hotels to stop them using hire cars to get their customers from London Airport? Does he think that by extending the Hackney Carriage Acts he will remove the conditions in which this sort of intimidation can flourish?

I have not received any direct representations about this particular problem, but I certainly think that the London Airport positon is one of the very strong reasons for the original Answer I gave.

I also express my gratitude to the Minister for that reply. In view of the fact that this antiquated and anachronistic restriction causes so much bad feeling betwen the public and taxi drivers to the detriment of both, will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that we shall very soon see legislation on this subject?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State was pressed a few moments; earlier to introduce legislation on another subject. We cannot legislate on all subjects at once. I certainly regard this matter as of considerable importance, but I cannot give a promise of legislation on it this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes the Criminal Records Office of the Metropolitan Police to identify a fingerprint submitted to it for that purpose.

The approximate times are: for the search of a complete set of 10 prints against the main collection of 10 prints, six to 30 minutes, and for the search of a single print against the single print collection 10 minutes to five hours. The time taken to search a single print against the main collection varies too greatly to make any estimate possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra cost he estimates will have to be borne by the ratepayers of Southend owing to his decision to amalgamate the police forces of Essex and Southend.

The apportionment of the cost of a combined force is a matter for discussion by the police authorities concerned.

Would not the Home Secretary agree that a great many of these amalgamations, which admittedly are in the public interest, cause concern to ratepayers in the areas, because as a result they have to pay additional rates and rates are already a burden to them?

I do not wish to prejudge the discussions in any way, but the cost of an amalgamated force should not be greater than the cost of the two separate forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in determining the amalgamation of police forces, he had regard to regions as defined by other Departments.

I had regard to all relevant factors. In only one case will the result of an amalgamation be to cause a single police area to straddle two economic planning regions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the inquiry into the child care arrangements in Dorset involved a visit by his inspectors to the former foster parents of the boy concerned in the case.

No, Sir.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the fact that in this Dorset inquiry on which the Chief Inspector provided a report for him no fewer than 43 foster homes were visited, it might have been wise to visit this particular one where the trouble occurred?

The object of the inquiry was not to investigate an individual case which had been before a court. The object of the inquiry, because of disquiet caused by the original case, was to investigate the general standard of child care in the County of Dorset. I think that was thoroughly and satisfactorily done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to publish up-to-date particulars of the number of children in care in England and Wales and related matters as last published in Command Paper No. 2240.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last White Paper on Children in Care was published; and when he intends to publish a new one.

These statistics were last published in December, 1963; later figures will be published next month.

While recognising the value of the fuller triennial report, is it right that this House should be deprived of the annual report, which contained important statistics that are very difficult to obtain from other sources?

I am sorry for the delay. There has been some difficulty in reconciling figures provided from different sources, from the local authorities and the voluntary organisations, but they will be available next month.

While welcoming the news that the statistics will be available shortly, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, when he lays his paper, to make it as full as possible in view of widespread concern recently expressed regarding the child welfare service?

Yes. I think the statistical position will not show any real change in the number of children in child care since the last Report was published, but I will give as much relevant information as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years Members of Parliament have been refused permission by his Department to visit preventive detention centres, Borstal institutions and prisons in their own constituencies; for what reasons they have been refused; and if he will make a statement.

I can find no record of any refusal of permission for an hon. Member to visit a Prison Department establishment. On very rare occasions, when an hon. Member has asked to see a particular inmate and the inmate indi- cated that he did not wish to be visited, his wishes have been respected.

I appreciate that that is quite reasonable, but is it not a fact that a bishop can visit a gaol in his diocese without permission and that a justice of the peace can visit a gaol in his area without permission? Does not this illustrate that it is unnecessary red tape that a Member of Parliament should have to write to the Department for permission to go round a gaol in his constituency?

If there is a general desire on the part of hon. Members that the present arrangements should be looked at, we will certainly do so. Members have often thanked me for the way in which their visits to prisons have been facilitated. If an hon. Member wishes to visit a prison, it is of help for us to know, because we can often be of help to him in the visit which he is making.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made for adequate police patrols in the London Borough of Croydon for school crossings and busy thoroughfares used by schoolchildren to and from school.

Supervision of schoolchildren crossing busy roads on their way to and from school has been authorised at 85 places in the Borough of Croydon. Ten are covered by police officers because traffic conditions are especially difficult; civilian school crossing patrols are authorised for the other 75. As far as they can, police officers take over any crossings not covered for the time being by civilian patrols owing to sickness or vacancies in the establishment.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that there is a great deal of concern in Croydon about the lack of patrols to assist children crossing streets on their way to and from school? Would it not be possible, at. least in Croydon, for traffic wardens to be used for this function?

I am aware that there is a shortage of school crossing patrols in Croydon. We are at the moment negotiating with the Traffic Wardens' Union on the possibility which my hon. Friend mentions.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the police of Z division in Croydon have been extremely co-operative in this matter, particularly with the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West? Any points of detail of this kind can easily be obtained by the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) by taking the trouble to contact the police in Croydon Z Division?

On a point of order. I do not know whether that allegation is to be allowed. I have in fact visited the police in Croydon.

It is not a point of order for me. It is a point of dispute between the two hon. Members.

I do not wish to enter into this particular dispute. It is recognised that the police do everything possible; they are themselves labouring under a very considerable manpower shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now implement those recommendations of the Littlewood Committee which do not require legislation.

A scheme for strengthening the Inspectorate is being examined. Proposals for a new Advisory Committee will shortly be put to interested bodies.

As the Littlewood Committee reported more than a year ago and selected these two points as being particularly urgent and capable of implementation without legislation, would my right hon. Friend undertake to do something about increasing the Inspectorate, if possible within the next few weeks, because this is much the most urgent matter?

I could not say exactly when we shall do this. As my hon. Friend knows, because she was a member of the Littlewood Committee, my right hon. Friend has to consult interested bodies. Of the 40 bodies consulted, seven have not yet forwarded their general comments. We want to get on with this as quickly as possible.

Why does the right hon. Lady preoccupy herself so closely with that in this Committee's Report which does not require legislation? Surely this is yet another example—the third this afternoon—of the Home Office being made the Cinderella of the Departments by this Government when beneficial or valuable legislation could be brought forward?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman is mistaken. I did not choose to concern myself with that which does not require legislation. The right hon. and learned Gentleman will find on reading the Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) that she specifically asked about that part of the Littlewood Committee's recommendations which does not require legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his examination of the existing controls over the supply of drugs; and if he will now make a statement on the action he intends to take to make these controls more adequate.

I have obtained a good deal of information about the working of the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1964, which came into operation on 31st October, 1964. I am making further inquiries and have not yet reached any conclusions on the possible need for amendment of the Act.

Has my right hon. Friend yet made a decision about the licensing of coffee clubs so that they can be registered and inspected? These are one of the most prolific sources of drug invasion.

This is a matter which would be dealt with in the Bill which is currently being sponsored by the Lord Chief Justice, as the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) mentioned, and which the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Miscampbell) has given notice of his intention to introduce in this House. I hope that progress may be made with that Bill.

Is the Home Secretary aware that all this evidence points to the fact that clubs are the great key to this problem? As he himself cannot find time to legislate, will he ensure that all co-operation is given by the Home Office to Members of both Houses who are seeking to remedy this evil?

Yes. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman and the House that we are giving—indeed, we have already given—such co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that existing controls on the sale of firearms are sufficient to ensure that such weapons do not fall into the hands of unsuitable or irresponsible persons; and if he will make a statement.

The question of the restrictions to be placed on the sale of firearms was fully discussed when the Firearms Act, 1965, which substantially strengthened the law, was before the House. That Act has been fully in operation for only eight months and, although I am keeping the situation under review, it is too early to consider further changes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that shotguns, for example, are freely obtainable from mail order firms, and that such weapons are now coming into the country in increasing numbers and create a potentially very dangerous situation? If he is really serious in his intention to tackle the crime wave, is it not time that the sale and availability of these shotguns was brought within the firearms certificate procedure?

The type of shotguns which are freely available and which can be used without special exemption were considerably restricted under the Firearms Act. I must pay some regard to the burden of inspection which I can put upon the police. The police do not consider that it would be right to make an extension at the present time.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the Government have just appointed a gentleman to further the sale of firearms? What is he doing to stop them getting into unsuitable hands?

I think that this is a matter of export rather than import.

What information has the right hon. Gentleman got about how the new Act has been operating during the last eight months?

I do not think I could usefully give the House information without notice, but I have reason to think that the Act has been working effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on the close security prison at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to approve the design by the end of the year.

What criteria will be used for the use of these security wings when they are available, and has the right hon. Gentleman any idea how their capacity, when completed, will relate to the number of men who ought to be in such security wings?

This is not a security wing. We are already using security wings in existing prisons. It is a maximum security prison, which will be a new development. I cannot without notice give the right hon. Gentleman information about the exact capacity, but selection for this prison will be based on the prisoners who most need maximum security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to deal with the anomalies at present existing in the jury system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Morris Report on jury service.

The Government intend to introduce legislation on the lines proposed by the Morris Committee, but I cannot yet say how soon.

I am much obliged for that reply, but does my hon. Friend realise that the Report has been out for a considerable time and that the matter is of pressing urgency? Will he expedite the introduction of the necessary legislation?

I realise that the Report has been out for some time, but my hon. Friend will, for his part, realise that there is considerable pressure from competing Measures for legislative time. I cannot myself give any undertaking, as he will understand, on when this legislation will be introduced.

I appreciate the good intentions and reforming zeal of the Home Office team, but can the hon. and learned Gentleman explain why his Department has been unable to secure any grant of Government time for this and other important reforms?

That is not correct. There are several Bills coming forward in this Session with which the Home Office is concerned.

Will the amending legislation deal with the relative advantages and disadvantages of the majority verdict system?

That is not a matter arising on this Question, because there was no recommendation from the Morris Committee on the subject.

If there is such pressure on Government time in this House, will the hon. and learned Gentleman and his right hon. Friend consider the possibility of introducing legislative reforms of this kind in another place, and, when he does that, will he bear in mind that some of us at least do not share the almost religious veneration for the jury system which was expressed in the Report?

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will know that, even if legislation is introduced in another place, it will still have to go through this House, so that that would not really solve the problem. On the second point he raised, his observation is noted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to enable Her Majesty's Government to accede to the Genocide Convention.

I regret that I cannot at present say how soon this will be possible.

That is a very disappointing Answer. Is not my hon. Friend aware that a definite statement and undertaking has been given regarding the Genocide Convention and that it is tremendously important, not only from our point of view but from the point of view of the general situation throughout the world? Will he please give it his immediate attention?

I accept that it is highly desirable to have legislation on this subject, but on the question of legislative time available I cannot add to the Answer I have already given.

May I press the hon. and learned Gentleman about this? This is the seventh case already today in which the Government have professed themselves unable to find Parliamentary time for relatively uncontroversial legislation. Why cannot the Home Secretary exercise some influence on his colleagues?

I recognise the right hon. and learned Gentleman's great concern, which I share, with Home Office matters, but it remains true that, if all the various suggestions which have been made were to be followed up, the time of the House would be monopolised by Home Office legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many postal votes were cast in each constituency in the recent general election;

I will circulate the information for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I am grateful for that reply, but can the hon. Lady explain, as these figures were available to returning officers the day after the election, how it has taken nearly three months to publish them?

I do not understand the hon. Gentleman's question. He has asked for publication of the figures and I have published them. I suspect that he is thinking of another Question which he asked recently on the return of election expenses.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a high proportion of these ballot papers are not returned because they are sent to elderly or sick people who are incapable of understanding the complexities of the form involved? Will she assure us that, at an early date, an effort will be made to produce a simplified form for postal voting?

As my hon. Friend knows, there will be a debate on this question tomorrow when a Bill is to be brought before the House.