The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004

Schools and rooms for European Parliamentary election meetings

67.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a candidate at a European Parliamentary election is entitled for the purpose of holding public meetings in furtherance of his candidature or that of his party to the use free of charge at reasonable times between the last date on which notice of election may be published in accordance with the European Parliamentary elections rules and the day preceding the date of the poll of—

(a) a suitable room in the premises of a school to which this regulation applies;

(b) any meeting room to which this regulation applies.

(2) This regulation applies—

(a) in England and Wales, to community, foundation and voluntary schools of which the premises are situated in the electoral region,

(b) in Scotland, to any school of which the premises are so situated, not being an independent school within the meaning of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980; and

(c) in Gibraltar, to a school the expense of maintaining which is payable wholly or partly out of public funds or out of any rate, or by a body whose expenses are so payable.

(3) This regulation applies to meeting rooms situated in the electoral region, the expense of maintaining which is payable wholly or mainly out of public funds or out of any rate, or by a body whose expenses are so payable.

(4) Where a room is used for a meeting in pursuance of the rights conferred by this regulation, the person by whom or on whose behalf the meeting is convened—

(a) shall defray any expenses incurred in preparing, warming, lighting and cleaning the room and providing attendance for the meeting and restoring the room to its usual condition after the meeting; and

(b) shall defray any damage done to the room or the premises in which it is situated, or to the furniture, fittings or apparatus in the room or premises.

(5) A candidate is not entitled to exercise the rights conferred by this regulation except on reasonable notice; and this regulation does not authorise any interference with the hours during which a room in school premises is used for educational purposes, or any interference with the use of a meeting room either for the purposes of the person maintaining it or under a prior agreement for its letting for any purpose.

(6) The provisions of Schedule 8 to these Regulations have effect with respect to the rights conferred by this regulation and the arrangements to be made for their exercise.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation (except those of paragraph (b) of paragraph (4)), the premises of a school shall not be taken to include any private dwelling, and in this regulation—

(a) the expression “meeting room” means any room which it is the practice to let for public meetings; and

(b) the expression “room” includes a hall, gallery or gymnasium.