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Written question asked by Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 November 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 November 2017. It was answered by Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative) on Monday, 27 November 2017 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Scottish Parliament: Elections

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their (1) ministers, and (2) officials, have held discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the rights of EU citizens to stand and vote in Scottish Parliament elections following Brexit; and if so, when.

Answer

UK Government Ministers and officials have held regular discussion with Scottish Government Ministers and officials on the progress of citizens' rights negotiations, which includes the right to stand and vote in municipal elections. There have been official level conversations after each round of negotiations with the EU and Ministerial conversations after the majority of the rounds, including most recently at the British-Irish Council on 10 November.

The UK Government position is that we want EU citizens with settled status, or who are on the pathway to settled status, to retain the right to vote and stand in any UK election which uses the local government register (which includes Scottish Parliamentary elections), so long as the rights of British citizens living in the EU are similarly protected.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3246
Session
2017-19
Related items
Visas
Friday, 3 July 2020
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Candidates Elections EU nationals Voting rights Scottish Parliament Brexit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk