65.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article—
(a)an individual candidate for return as a regional member at a Scottish parliamentary election is entitled for the purpose of holding public meetings in furtherance of the candidate’s candidature; and
(b)a registered party submitting a regional list is entitled for the purpose of holding public meetings for the purpose of promoting or procuring the giving of votes for that registered party,
to the use of the rooms described in paragraphs (2) and (3), free of charge, at reasonable times between the last day on which notice of the election may be published in accordance with the Scottish Parliamentary Election Rules and the day preceding the date of the poll.
(2) This article applies to a suitable room in any school of which the premises are situated in the region, not being an independent school within the meaning given in section 135 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
(3) This article applies to any meeting room situated in the region, the expense of maintaining which is payable wholly or mainly by—
(a)the Scottish Ministers or any other part of the Scottish Administration; or
(b)any Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions (within the meaning of the 1998 Act).
(4) Where a room is used for a meeting in pursuance of the rights conferred by this article, the candidate or, as the case may be, registered party 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 to the premises in which it is situated, or to the furniture, fittings or apparatus in the room or premises.
(5) A person is not entitled to exercise the rights conferred by this article except on reasonable notice; and this article 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.