§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to inform citizens of other member states of the European Union resident in the United Kingdom of their right to vote in elections to the European Parliament.
§ Mr. Peter LloydFollowing the coming into force of the treaty on European Union, and of the European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualifications of Representatives) Regulations 1994, citizens of member states of the European Union resident in the United Kingdom have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament on the same basis as existing electors and candidates.
Information sheets will be distributed to electoral registration officers; the main political parties; the embassies and consulates of other member states of the European Union; British embassies and consulates in other member states; the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; and specialist bodies including the Alliance Francaise, the Goethe Institute, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Spanish Institute. There will also be notices in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.
Application forms for Community citizens to apply for inclusion in the electoral register will be available from 511W electoral registration officers from 1 March, and must be returned by 29 March. Local political parties will be able to obtain copies of the form and the leaflet from electoral registration officers for use locally.