§ Mr. McWalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will urge returning officers to seek, whenever possible, premises other than school premises for voting purposes. [47126]
§ Dr. WhiteheadIt is the duty of district and London borough councils in England and county or county borough councils in Wales to provide for all electors such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances and, so far as is reasonable and practicable, accessible to the disabled. Guidance about the conduct of elections is now a matter for the Electoral Commission. Existing guidance, issued in 2001 by my right hon. Friend, then the Home Secretary, makes it clear that, where it is necessary to use school premises for voting purposes, every effort should be made to liaise with school authorities to limit disruption to school activities.