HL Deb 16 January 1979 vol 397 cc945-6WA
Lord AVEBURY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make clear whether or not any British subject may stand in a United Kingdom consistituency for election to the European Parliament in the first Direct Elections in June 1979; or whether eligibility to stand is confined to British subjects whose names appear on the current electoral register in the United Kingdom; and whether they will cite the source of the definition of persons eligible to stand in these elections.

Lord BOSTON of FAVERSHAM

A definition of those eligible to stand as candidates in the European Assembly Elections is given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the European Assembly Elections Act 1978. With the addition of Peers and certain ministers of religion, any British subject or citizen of the Republic of Ireland who is not disqualified for membership of the House of Commons, and does not hold a disqualifying office in or connected with a Community institution, may stand as a candidate for election as a representative of the United Kingdom in the European Assembly.