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THIS
DOCUMENT
IS
T H E PROPERTY
Printed
OF
H I S
BRITANNIC
for the Cabinet.
MAJESTY'S
GOYERNMEN
July 1947
SECRET
Copy N o . 4
CM. (47)
61st Conclusions
C A B I N E T 61 ( 4 7 )
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at 10, Downing
on Tuesday, 15th July, 1947, at 10 a.m.
Street,
S.W. 1,
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . C . R . A T T L E E , M . P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the
The Right H o n . HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The Right H o n . VISCOUNT J O W I T T ,
L o r d Chancellor.
The Right
Chair).
Hon. H U G H DALTON, M.P.,
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
The R i g h t Hon. J . CHUTER E D E , M.P.,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e H o m e
Department.
The Right H o n . VISCOUNT ADDISON,
Secretary o f S t a t e f o r C o m m o n w e a l t h
Relations.
The Right H o n . A . CREECH JONES,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e
Colonies.
T h e R i g h t H o n . J . W E S T W O O D , ALP.,
The Right Hon. G . A . ISAACS, M . P . ,
The R i g h t H o n . E . SHINWELL, M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a n d N a t i o n a l
Service.
The Right Hon. ANEURIN BEVAN, M.P.,
Minister of Health.
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r Scotland.
The
Right
,Hon.
T H E EARL
OF
L I S T O W E L , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
I n d i a a n d S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
Burma.
M i n i s t e r of F u e l a n d P o w e r .
The R i g h t Hon. T. WILLIAMS, M.P.,
Minister
Fisheries.
of
Agriculture
and
The R i g h t H o n . GEORGE TOMLINSON,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
The Right Hon. VISCOUNT H A L L , F i r s t
L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
The Right H o n . P . J . NOEL-BAKER,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r A i r .
The Right Hon. HECTOR M C N E I L ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of S t a t e .
The R i g h t H o n . F . J . BELLENGER, M.P.,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r W a r .
The R i g h t Hon. J O H N STRACHEY, M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of F o o d .
The R i g h t H o n . W I L L I A M WHITELEY,
M.P.,
Parliamentary
Secretary,
T r e a s u r y (Item 3).
Secretariat
:
M r . W . S. M U R R I E .
M r . S. E . V . L U K E .
[34132-2]
B
C A B I N E T 61 (47) CONTENTS
Minute
No.
"1
2
Subject
F o r e i g n Affairs ....
C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e Bill ....
P r o p o s e d A b o l i t i o n of C a p i t a l
3
Parliament
Electoral
....
Reform.
Punishment.
1. The Minister of State s a i d t h a t , t h o u g h precise i n f o r m a t i o n
a b o u t recent events i n Greece h a d n o t so f a r been received, i t w a s
clear t h a t extensive a r r e s t s h a d been m a d e by t h e G r e e k Govern­
ment. T h e r e h a d been n o c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h H i s M a j e s t y ' s Govern­
ment, or so f a r a s h e knew, w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t
before these a r r e s t s h a d been m a d e . T h e G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t claimed
to h a v e a n t i c i p a t e d a m a j o r C o m m u n i s t plot, a n d t h e large-scale
rebel a t t a c k on K o n i t z a gave some colour to t h e suggestion t h a t
a C o m m u n i s t offensive m i g h t h a v e been p l a n n e d . I t w a s impossible
to form definite views u n t i l m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n w a s available, a n d ,
m e a n w h i l e , w e w e r e p r e s s i n g the G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t to m a k e
emergency a r r a n g e m e n t s for s c r e e n i n g t h e a r r e s t e d persons. There­
w e r e still 5,000 B r i t i s h t r o o p s i n Greece, b u t they w e r e n o t involved
in o p e r a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e rebels.
Foreign
Affairs.
Greece.
The C a b i n e t T o o k n o t e of t h e s t a t e m e n t by t h e M i n i s t e r of S t a t e .
Criminal
Justice Bill.
Proposed
A b o l i t i o n of
Capital
Punishment.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (47) 55th
Conclusions,
Minute
4.)
2. T h e C a b i n e t r e s u m e d t h e i r discussion of t h e a t t i t u d e w h i c h
the G o v e r n m e n t should a d o p t w i t h r e g a r d t o c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t
when t h e C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e B i l l w a s before P a r l i a m e n t , a n d h a d
before t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m by the H o m e S e c r e t a r y ( C P . (47) 200)
d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w h i c h should be borne i n
m i n d in r e a c h i n g a decision on t h i s m a t t e r .
The Home Secretary recalled t h a t a t t h e discussion on 19th J u n e
it h a d been s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r c a p i t a l p u n i s h ­
m e n t should be abolished should be left t o a free vote on the R e p o r t
S t a g e of t h e B i l l . T h i s m i g h t well, however, be t a k e n as a n i n d i c a ­
t i o n of i n d e c i s i o n on t h e p a r t of t h e G o v e r n m e n t a n d a s a n i n v i t a ­
tion to t h e H o u s e of L o r d s t o delete f r o m the B i l l a n y provision
a b o l i s h i n g t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y w h i c h m i g h t be i n s e r t e d i n it by t h e
H o u s e of Commons. T h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d t h e n be faced w i t h
the difficult q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r the r e i n s t a t e m e n t of t h e provision
should be left t o a free vote of the H o u s e of Commons. I n these
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , if the C a b i n e t felt u n a b l e to t a k e the i n i t i a t i v e by
i n s e r t i n g i n t h e B i l l a Clause for t h e abolition of the d e a t h p e n a l t y ,
the best course m i g h t be to t a b l e a R e s o l u t i o n w h i c h w o u l d enable
t h e H o u s e t o consider w h e t h e r t h e r e should be m o r e f r e q u e n t recom­
m e n d a t i o n s for t h e exercise of t h e R o y a l P r e r o g a t i v e .
The Secretary
of State for War s a i d t h a t t h e A r m y a n d A i r
F o r c e A c t s p r o v i d e d for t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y for c e r t a i n m i l i t a r y
offences, s u c h a s shamefully d e l i v e r i n g u p a post or c a s t i n g a w a y
a r m s i n t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e enemy, a s well a s for those offences
w h i c h w e r e p u n i s h a b l e by d e a t h u n d e r t h e o r d i n a r y law.
E x p e r i e n c e h a d shown t h a t , if the d e a t h p e n a l t y for a n offence w a s
abolished i n p e a c e - t i m e i t w a s difficult, if n o t impossible, to reimpose
it in w a r , a n d even in t i m e of peace c o n d i t i o n s i n the A r m e d Forces,
whose m e m b e r s w e r e necessarily i n possession of l e t h a l weapons,
w e r e n o t c o m p a r a b l e w i t h c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e civil community. H e
hoped, t h e r e f o r e , t h a n a n y decision to abolish c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t
for offences p u n i s h a b l e u n d e r t h e o r d i n a r y l a w w o u l d n o t be e x t e n d e d
to cover offences p u n i s h a b l e u n d e r m i l i t a r y l a w w i t h o u t a careful
e n q u i r y i n t o t h e consequences of such a s t e p .
The First Lord of the Admiralty
s u p p o r t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of
S t a t e for W a r ; a n d The Secretary of State for Air s a i d t h a t , t h o u g h
t h e A i r C o u n c i l h a d reached t h e conclusion t h a t t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y
could safely be abolished for a l l offences o t h e r t h a n those for w h i c h
i t could be imposed u n d e r t h e o r d i n a r y law, he a g r e e d t h a t a n
e n q u i r y on the lines proposed w o u l d be d e s i r a b l e .
The Lord Chancellor
s a i d t h a t H i s M a j e s t y ' s J u d g e s were
u n a n i m o u s l y opposed to t h e abolition of t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y on t h e
R34132-2]
B 2 g r o u n d t h a t i t c o n s t i t u t e d t h e only effective d e t e r r e n t in certain
cases. Moreover, a t t h e p r e s e n t time, w h e n t h e r e w a s an abnormal
a m o u n t of c r i m e w i t h violence, abolition m i g h t have very g r a v e eon­
sequences. H e t h o u g h t t h a t i t would be w o r t h considering whether
in p r e f e r e n c e to t h e suggestion t h a t t h e r e m i g h t be more frequent
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for t h e exercise of t h e R o y a l P r e r o g a t i v e , i t might
be possible to i n t r o d u c e a system s i m i l a r to t h a t a d o p t e d in some
p a r t s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s u n d e r w h i c h a d i s t i n c t i o n w a s made
between m u r d e r i n t h e first a n d second degree, t h e death penalty
b e i n g reserved for cases of t h e f o r m e r k i n d .
I n f u r t h e r discussion i t w a s u r g e d t h a t , since M i n i s t e r s were
n o t a g r e e d on t h e m e r i t s of the q u e s t i o n a n d since t h i s divergence
of view w a s reflected among M e m b e r s of P a r l i a m e n t of all Parties,
t h e r i g h t course w a s to leave t h e m a t t e r to a free vote, unless it
w e r e f o u n d possible to a v o i d i t s being r a i s e d altogether. I t was
p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t m i g h t reasonably be expected to
give a lead to P a r l i a m e n t on a m a t t e r such as t h e abolition of capital
p u n i s h m e n t a n d t h a t if on a free vote in t h e H o u s e of Commons the
B i l l w e r e a m e n d e d to p r o v i d e for abolition a n d the H o u s e of Lords
w e r e subsequently to delete t h e p r o v i s i o n from t h e Bill, t h e Govern­
m e n t w o u l d be placed in a n e x t r e m e l y a w k w a r d s i t u a t i o n . I n these
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , there, w a s m u c h t o be said for a t t e m p t i n g to dis­
sociate t h e question of t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y from t h e C r i m i n a l Justice
Bill. O n e m e t h o d of d o i n g t h i s would be to promise t h a t a Bill
a b o l i s h i n g the d e a t h p e n a l t y would be i n t r o d u c e d in a later Session,
b u t before such a p r o m i s e could be given it w o u l d be necessary that
M i n i s t e r s should agree t h a t the d e a t h p e n a l t y o u g h t to be abolished
a n d the discussion a t the C a b i n e t s m e e t i n g on 19th J u n e h a d shown
t h a t M i n i s t e r s were d i v i d e d on t h i s question. Accordingly, the
best course seemed to be to e x p l o r e f u r t h e r the possibility of drafting
t h e t i t l e of t h e B i l l in s u c h a w a y as to exclude a n y amendment
to abolish c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t . A t t h e same time, a n a t t e m p t should
be m a d e to assess t h e s t r e n g t h of feeling a m o n g Government sup­
p o r t e r s in favour of abolition a n d to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r it would
be possible to convince t h e m t h a t they should r e f r a i n from pressing
for t h e abolition of c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t a t t h e p r e s e n t time. It
could be r e p r e s e n t e d to t h e m t h a t such evidence a s there was of
o p i n i o n in t h e c o u n t r y d i d not suggest t h a t t h e r e w a s any strong
d e m a n d for a b o l i t i o n ; t h a t the G o v e r n m e n t h a d n o m a n d a t e for
t h i s c h a n g e i n t h e l a w ; a n d t h a t a n y a t t e m p t to deal w i t h capital
p u n i s h m e n t in the C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e B i l l m i g h t , i n view of the
a t t i t u d e of t h e H o u s e of L o r d s , j e o p a r d i s e t h e very desirable reforms
c o n t a i n e d in t h a t B i l l .
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) I n v i t e d the H o m e S e c r e t a r y to a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r i t would
be possible to d r a f t t h e t i t l e of t h e C r i m i n a l Justice
Bill i n such a w a y a s to exclude a n y a m e n d m e n t for the
abolition of c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t ;
(2) I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t to t a k e soundings among
G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s w i t h a view to determining
w h e t h e r i t w o u l d be possible to p e r s u a d e those who were
i n f a v o u r of t h e abolition of c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t that
i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of s e c u r i n g t h e p a s s a g e of the Criminal
J u s t i c e Bill i n t h e 1 9 4 7 - 4 8 Session t h e y should refrain
from p r e s s i n g for t h i s c h a n g e i n t h e l a w ;
(3) I n v i t e d t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y to c i r c u l a t e a memorandum
to t h e C a b i n e t o n t h e suggestion m a d e by the L o r d Chan­
cellor t h a t i t m i g h t be possible to d i s t i n g u i s h between
c e r t a i n types of m u r d e r for w h i c h c a p i t a l punishment
would be r e t a i n e d a n d o t h e r types for w h i c h i t would
be abolished.
3. T h e C a b i n e t Considered a m e m o r a n d u m by t h e H o m e
S e c r e t a r y ( C P . (47) 193) r e p o r t i n g c e r t a i n conclusions r e a c h e d by
t h e M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d t o consider t h e scope a n d form
of a n y legislation On electoral feforht t o be i n t r o d u c e d i n the 1947-48
Session.
The Home Secretary
s a i d t h a t h e h a d set o u t i n C P . (47) 193
t h e conclusions so f a r reached by t h e Conrmittee as a r e s u l t of t h e i r
c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e R e p o r t of the C o m m i t t e e o h E l e c t o r a l R e g i s t r a ­
tion (Cmd. 7004), t h e I n t e r i m R e p o r t of t h e C o m m i t t e e on E l e c t o r a l
L a w R e f o r m (Cmd. 6606) a n d t h e o u t s t a n d i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of
t h e S p e a k e r s Conference (Chid. 8534 a n d 6543). , T h e C o m m i t t e e
h a d still to consider t h e F i n a l R e p o r t of t h e C o m m i t t e e on E l e c t o r a l
L a w R e f o r m , a n d t h e y h a d not yet completed t h e i r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
of t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of the S p e a k e r ' s Conference w i t h r e g a r d
t o s p e a k e r s ' e x p e n s e s a n d increased p o l l i n g facilities i n r u r a l a r e a s .
W i t h t h e exception of the r e c o m m e n d a t i o n t h a t p o s t a l a n d p r o x y
v o t i n g f a c i l i t i e s should n o t be e x t e n d e d to absentee o w n e r s in Scot­
land, all the conclusions set out i n C P . (47) 193 w e r e u n a n i m o u s .
T h e p r o p o s e d Bill w o u l d deal n o t only w i t h electoral r e f o r m b u t
also w i t h the r e d i s t r i b u t i o n of seats, a n d he w a s fully a w a r e of t h e
need to do e v e r y t h i n g possible to h a v e t h e Bill r e a d y for i n t r o d u c t i o n
e a r l y in the n e w Session.
I n discussion t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e :—
(a) T h e r e w a s g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t t h a t , i n accordance w i t h the
p r i n c i p l e t h a t each p e r s o n should h a v e only one P a r l i a m e n t a r y vote,
t h e business p r e m i s e s qualification a n d U n i v e r s i t y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
should be abolished. T h i s would not be i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e reten­
tion of the a r r a n g e m e n t s u n d e r which local g o v e r n m e n t electors
who Occupied, or i n S c o t l a n d o w n e d , p r e m i s e s in different a r e a s
should have m o r e t h a n one local g o v e r n m e n t vote.
(&) T h e C o m m i t t e e h a d recommended t h a t the C i t y of L o n d o n
constituency, the e l e c t o r a t e of w h i c h would, w i t h t h e abolition of
the business p r e m i s e s qualification, be reduced t o 4,585 voters, should
be abolished. T h e C a b i n e t w e r e a g r e e d t h a t t h e r e t e n t i o n of t h e
C i t y a s a s e p a r a t e c o n s t i t u e n c y w a s i n d e f e n s i b l e b u t i t was suggested
t h a t , in view of i t s h i s t o r i c associations, t h e t i t l e of t h e C i t y of
L o n d o n c o n s t i t u e n c y should be preserved, the e l e c t o r a t e being
e n l a r g e d by a m a l g a m a t i n g t h e C i t y w i t h s u i t a b l e p o r t i o n s of
a d j o i n i n g M e t r o p o l i t a n boroughs-.
(c) I t w a s suggested t h a t those P e e r s w h o w e r e n o t e n t i t l e d
t o a seat in t h e H o u s e of L o r d s should be given a P a r l i a m e n t a r y
v o t e ; a n d The Home Secretary u n d e r t o o k to consider w h a t a m e n d ­
m e n t of the l a w w o u l d be r e q u i r e d to effect t h i s .
(cl) The Minister of State asked w h e t h e r i t w o u l d not be possible
to give C r o w n s e r v a n t s s t a t i o n e d overseas t h e same r i g h t to vote
in P a r l i a m e n t a r y elections as i t w a s p r o p o s e d t o give t o members
of t h e A r m e d F o r c e s . I t . s e e m e d t o h i m difficult to d i s t i n g u i s h
between a member of t h e C o n t r o l Commission for G e r m a n y a n d a
member of t h e A r m e d Forces w h o h a p p e n e d to be s t a t i o n e d in
Germany.
I n r e p l y i t w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t , if a n y concession w e r e m a d e
i n f a v o u r of C r o w n s e r v a n t s s t a t i o n e d a b r o a d , i t w o u l d b e difficult
t o w i t h h o l d i t f r o m members of commercial firms who w e r e sent
a b r o a d ; a n d t h e g e n e r a l view of t h e C a b i n e t w a s t h a t t h e r i g h t
t o vote i n U n i t e d K i n g d o m elections w h i l e s t a t i o n e d overseas should
be r e s t r i c t e d to m e m b e r s of t h e A r m e d Forces.
(e) I t w a s q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r , i n view of the s h o r t a g e of m a n ­
power, i t w o u l d be justifiable t o r e v e r t to t h e p r e - w a r system of
b a s i n g the electoral r e g i s t e r on a canvass. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t
w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e associations of local a u t h o r i t i e s a n d t h e
P a r t y a g e n t s w e r e s t r o n g l y in f a v o u r of a reversion to t h e canvass
system a n d t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n a l w o r k e n t a i l e d would i n fact be
c a r r i e d o u t b y e x i s t i n g members of local a u t h o r i t y staffs a n d by
r e t i r e d persons, w i t h t h e result t h a t t h e m a n - p o w e r available for
p r o d u c t i v e i n d u s t r y w o u l d n o t be affected.
(/) The Lord President
a n d The Chancellor of the Exchequer
u r g e d t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t should n o t a c c e p t the recommendation
t h a t t w o r e g i s t e r s should be p u b l i s h e d each y e a r . T h e abolition of
t h e q u a l i f y i n g p e r i o d of residence w o u l d enable a more up-to-date
r e g i s t e r t o be p r o d u c e d , a n d t h e c o m p i l a t i o n of a second register
w o u l d involve a n a d d i t i o n a l a n n u a l e x p e n d i t u r e of a b o u t £-£ million
f r o m t h e E x c h e q u e r a n d £ ^ million from t h e r a t e s , as well as
i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r e s s u r e of w o r k on t h e p r i n t i n g t r a d e .
A s a g a i n s t this i t w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e compilation of a
second r e g i s t e r each y e a r w a s s t r o n g l y a d v o c a t e d by the political
P a r t i e s a n d desirable as a m e a n s of e n s u r i n g t h e smooth and
efficient w o r k i n g of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t . T h e r e were likely
t o be considerable movements of p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e coming years
a n d if t h e r e w e r e only a single r e g i s t e r each y e a r m a n y people
w o u l d be d i s f r a n c h i s e d , w h i c h would give r i s e to complaint and
u n d e r m i n e the s u p p o r t for P a r l i a m e n t a r y g o v e r n m e n t . Moreover
i t w a s unlikely t h a t in f u t u r e y e a r s t h e r e would be the same
difficulties as t h e r e h a d been in 1945, w h e n t h e need for a complete
r e p r i n t i n g of the r e g i s t e r h a d coincided w i t h a d i s p u t e in the
p r i n t i n g t r a d e . I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e general view of the
C a b i n e t w a s i n f a v o u r of p r o v i d i n g for t w o r e g i s t e r s a year.
(g) I t w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t if t h e G o v e r n m e n t accepted the
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n in p a r a g r a p h 9 of C P . (47) 193 t h a t all local
elections should be b e l d i n t h e s p r i n g , t h e question would arise
w h e t h e r a r r a n g e m e n t s should be m a d e to hold c o u n t y council and
d i s t r i c t council elections on t h e same d a y . Discussions on this
p o i n t w e r e being held w i t h t h e associations of local a u t h o r i t i e s and
a final r e c o m m e n d a t i o n on t h e p o i n t w o u l d be m a d e to the Cabinet
a t a l a t e r d a t e . T h e r e w a s m u c h to be said for h o l d i n g both county
council a n d d i s t r i c t council elections on t h e same day, b u t there
m i g h t well be objections to a s i m i l a r a r r a n g e m e n t for the London
C o u n t y Council a n d t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n b o r o u g h elections.
(h) The Home Secretary
s a i d t h a t he h a d been i n touch with
t h e Service M i n i s t e r s i n o r d e r to e n s u r e t h a t t h e Service Regulations
a n d t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s issued to C o m m a n d i n g Officers were such as
to e n s u r e t h a t all members of t h e A r m e d F o r c e s h a d a full oppor­
t u n i t y of exercising t h e i r r i g h t s as citizens a n d t h a t suitable
d i s c i p l i n a r y action would be t a k e n a g a i n s t a n y officers who failed
to d i s c h a r g e t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in t h i s m a t t e r .
(i) T h e C o m m i t t e e h a d recommended t h a t , in o r d e r to remove
doubts, t h e l a w should be a m e n d e d t o p r o v i d e t h a t c a n d i d a t e s at
P a r l i a m e n t a r y elections (but n o t t h e i r wives) should be eligible to
vote a s absent voters. T h e C a b i n e t felt, however, t h a t the spouses
of P a r l i a m e n t a r y c a n d i d a t e s should also be eligible to vote as absent
voters.
(j) The Home Secretary said t h a t t h e C o m m i t t e e h a d intended
t h a t f a c i l i t i e s for p o s t a l v o t i n g in M e t r o p o l i t a n borough elections
should be g r a n t e d , t h o u g h t h i s h a d n o t been specifically stated in
p a r a g r a p h 11 of C P . (47) 193.
(k) The Home Secretary
u n d e r t o o k to consult t h e Minister of
E d u c a t i o n a b o u t t h e u s e of schools for election m e e t i n g s .
The Cabinet—
(1) Subject to t h e p o i n t s n o t e d in p a r a g r a p h s (&), (c), (i) and (j)
above, a p p r o v e d t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of t h e Ministerial
Committee as set o u t i n C P . (47) 1 9 3 ;
(2) Took note t h a t the H o m e S e c r e t a r y w o u l d c i r c u l a t e a further
m e m o r a n d u m d e a l i n g w i t h t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of the
M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e on t h e F i n a l R e p o r t of t h e Com­
m i t t e e on E l e c t o r a l L a w R e f o r m a n d o n a n y other
outstanding points.
...
Cabinet Office, S.W. 1,
Vtth July, 1947.