Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will take steps to ensure that schools are only used as polling stations as a last resort, in order to minimise disruption to pupils' education.

The Electoral Commission informs me that the Returning Officer (RO) at an election is responsible for deciding which polling stations will be used for the poll. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to ROs to support them in reaching decisions on the selection of venues for polling stations. Electoral legislation provides that ROs can require a room in publicly-funded schools for use as a polling station and can use these rooms free of charge.