§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of Great Britain's membership of the European Economic Community, the Government will consider legislation to enable citizens of member countries who have been living in the United Kingdom for at least 15 years and paying taxes, to vote in local government elections
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Britons resident in EEC countries and domiciled there for more than 10 years retain their British franchise; and whether nationals of EEC countries apart from Ireland retain the right to exercise their franchise in their countries of origin assuming they have been resident and domiciled in the United Kingdom for over 10 years.
§ Mr. JohnBritish subjects resident abroad, unless Service voters, would be unlikely to retain their franchise in the circumstances described. France has a system of proxy voting for nationals resident abroad. Italy and Luxembourg have provision for nationals resident abroad to return to their country to vote. Danish nationals normally resident in Denmark but temporarily resident abroad may vote at Danish consulates and embassies. Germany and Belgium have restricted service voting facilities similar to our own. The Netherlands have no arrangements for their nationals resident abroad to vote.