§ Mr. Eyreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for New Forest (Mr. McNair-Wilson), Official Report 16 November 1978, column 291 (a) what he understands by the term "separately" in the phrase "holding both sets of elections separately on the same day", (b) if there are any legislative obstacles to holding a general election and European elections on the same day using the same polling booths and polling stations for both elections, (c) if legislative obstacles do exist, what measures would be necessary to remove them, and (d) if there are any non-legislative obstacles which would prevent the simultaneous holding of both elections.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe regulations governing parliamentary elections and the draft regulations governing the European Assembly elections permit the holding of both elections on the same day, provided that the procedures for each election are fully observed and separate polling facilities are provided for each. Primary legislation would be required to permit the same staff to supervise both elections and the same equipment, including ballot boxes, to be used for both.