§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the eligibility of citizens of Commonwealth countries, other than United Kingdom citizens, who are resident in the United Kingdom and eligible to stand as candidates for the Parliament of the United Kingdom, to stand for election to the European Parliament. [81786]
§ Mr. George HowarthI can confirm that, under the European Parliamentary Elections Act, 1978, as amended, a Commonwealth citizen is eligible in the same way as a United Kingdom citizen to stand as a candidate for election to the European Parliament wherever he or she is resident.