Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (i) from whom they have received representations urging that legislation should be introduced to enable some 300,000 British subjects resident in other Community countries to vote in the next election for the European Parliament, what has been the essence of their arguments and how they have replied;
- (ii) from whom they have received representations to the contrary effect and what has been the essence of their arguments and how they have replied.
§ Lord EltonThe Government have received representations urging them to introduce legislation giving all British nationals resident in the European Community the right to vote at the 1984 European Parliament elections from British Conservative Associations in several Community countries, from the Association for the Rights of Brits Abroad, from noble Lords, from members of another place and from members of the public. Their arguments may be summarised as follows:
- (a) the right to vote at European Parliament elections should not be confined to people resident in the United Kingdom. Many British people resident in other member states are either working for Community institutions or paying United Kingdom taxes and intend to return to the United Kingdom in due course;
- (b) the British Nationality Act 1981, which comes into force on 1st January 1983, provides a straightforward definition of British citizenship on which an extension of the franchise might be based; and
- (c) other member states have more generous provisions for their nationals resident outside their national territory to vote in European Parliament elections.
In reply, the Government have said that they accept that Community nationals should be able to vote at European Parliament elections irrespective of their place of residence in the Community. Legislation must, however, wait until agreement is reached in the Council of Ministers on how this principle is given effect. The Government have received no representations specifically urging them not to give the vote to British nationals resident in other member states at the 1984 elections.
Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are confident, and if so on what grounds, that their failure to legislate to enable some 300,000 British subjects resident in other Community countries to vote in the forthcoming European election is consistent with the letter and spirit of the United Kingdom's treaty obligations, and that both the Court of Justice of the European Communities and the European Court of Human Rights would unhesitatingly uphold this view.
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§ Lord EltonThe Government are not aware of any international obligations requiring them to give the vote in this election to people not resident in the United Kingdom.
Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will summarise in tabular form the action taken by other Community countries to enable their subjects resident throughout the EEC to use their votes in their own country in the forthcoming election, showing the approximate numbers involved and the method of voting, and whether they expect to be the last country to take the necessary action.
§ Lord EltonThe provisions in force at the 1979 elections were as follows:
Country Elegibility Method Belgium Citizens whose main place of residence is Belgium By proxy Denmark Citizens permanently resident in other member states By post through diplomatic missions FRG Citizens resident in other member states By post Franee All citizens resident abroad, whether in member states or elsewhere In person at diplomatic missions or by proxy Ireland Service voters By post Italy All citizens resident abroad, whether in member states or elsewhere At consulates (in other member states) or in person in Italy (if resident eleswhere) Luxembourg Citizens resident in other member states In person in Luxembourg Netherlands Citizens resident in other member states By proxy The right to vote at the first Greek elections to the European Parliament in 1981 was confined to Greek citizens resident in Greece. No information is available on action member states may have taken, or may take before the 1984 elections, to change the laws in force in 1979, the possible timing of any such action, or the numbers of people who may be involved.
Lord Chelwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What method of voting they favour to enable some 300,000 British subjects living in other Community countries to vote in European elections, and whether they will make drafting help available to enable a Private Member's Bill to be introduced and passed with Government backing.
§ Lord EltonThe Government have taken no decisions on the method of voting most appropriate for electors resident outside the United Kingdom. The subject is not suitable for a Private Member's Bill.