The European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Expenses) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1989

Made: 12th June 1989

Coming into force: 13th June 1989

The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 29(3) and 202(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00001], as applied by regulation 5(1) of and Schedule 1 to the European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1986[^f00002], hereby make the following Regulations:–

1

These Regulations may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Expenses) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1989, and shall come into force on 13th June 1989.

2

Unless the context otherwise requires, in these Regulations

• “European Parliamentary election” means the election of a representative to the European Parliament;

• “Parliamentary constituency” means an area having separate representation in the House of Commons;

and other expressions have the same meaning as in the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978[^f00003][^f00004].

3

The maximum charges to which the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland, as the returning officer responsible for the conduct of European Parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland, shall be entitled in respect of services rendered and expenses incurred by him for the purposes of or in connection with a European Parliamentary election are the amounts specified in the Schedule to these Regulations.

4

The European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Expenses) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1984[^f00005] are hereby revoked.

SCHEDULE — SCALE OF MAXIMUM CHARGES IN RESPECT OF SERVICES RENDERED AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND AS THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE PURPOSES OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Only the fees and disbursements specified hereunder shall be chargeable and in particular the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland as the returning officer shall not be entitled to charge as an expense payments which he makes from his fees (or otherwise) to his deputy electoral officers by way of remuneration for performing functions of the returning officer.

In this Schedule, the “authorised maximum” in relation to an expense specified hereunder means the sum paid in respect of that expense to the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland as the returning officer in respect of the corresponding expense incurred in connection with the European Parliamentary elections held on 14th June 1984, increased by 31%. Provided that the maximum amount which the returning officer shall be entitled to charge in respect of all the expenses specified hereunder in relation to which the maximum amounts are specified to be the “authorised maximum” shall be the total of the maximum amounts so specified increased by £25,000, notwithstanding that the amount disbursed by him for any particular expense so specified is greater than the amount specified hereunder as the maximum amount for that expense.

Except as expressly provided in this Schedule, in no case shall a charge exceed the sum actually paid or payable by the returning officer. Subject thereto the maximum charges shall be as follows:–

I

In a contested election:

1

• (a) For the presiding officer at each polling station (to include all expenses other than any travelling or overnight subsistence expenses specified in this Schedule)£80.00

• (b) For any person who takes over the duties of a presiding officer because of the incapacity of that presiding officer on the day of the election (with like inclusion)£80.00

2

• (a) For one clerk at each polling station£50.00

• (b) For additional clerks at a polling station either being clerks at a polling station to which there are assigned more than 700 entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published), such additional clerks not to exceed one clerk for every 600 entries or fraction thereof in excess of 700 or being clerks whose employment is determined by the returning officer to be necessary for the effective conduct of the election:

For each additional clerk (whole-time or part-time as the case may require)£50.00

3

• (1) For the employment of persons in connection with the manual preparation and issue of the official poll cards, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:

• (a) For the initial preparation of cards:

For every 100 cards or fraction thereof£3.20

• (b) For each revision not confined to a particular section of the cards:

• (i) For every 100 cards or fraction thereof prepared on the initial preparation£0.50

• (ii) For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared£3.20

Provided that, if the number of new cards does not exceed 15 per cent of the number prepared on the initial preparation, the total allowances for the revision shall be increased by 5 per cent.

• (c) For a revision of a particular section only of the cards:For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared£3.20

• (d) For completion and issue of the cards on the occasion of an election: For every 100 cards or fraction thereof issued (or withdrawn in respect of voters entitled to vote by post)£1.65

• (2) For the employment of persons in connection with the issue of poll cards which have not been prepared manually, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:

For every 100 cards or fraction thereof£1.05

4

• (a) For persons employed in connection with the count, including the verification of ballot papers, as:

• (i) Count Clerk£50.00 per day

• (ii) Sorter£55.00 per day

• (iii) Count Supervisor or Calculator£80.00 per day

• (b) For all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer and deputy returning officers including day subsistence expensesAuthorised Maximum

5

Returning officer’s or deputy returning officers' travelling and overnight subsistence expenses where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the electionAuthorised Maximum

6

Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks where necessary (including any expenses incurred in conveying the ballot boxes in those cases in which presiding officers or poll clerks are responsible for the transport of the boxes to or from the polling stations)Authorised Maximum

7

Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of clerical and other assistants employed by the returning officer or deputy returning officer where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the electionAuthorised Maximum

8

For printing and providing ballot papersAuthorised Maximum

9

For printing and providing official poll cardsAuthorised Maximum

10

For printing and providing notices and other documents required in and about the election or poll and costs of publishing the sameAuthorised Maximum

11

For the renting of any building or room for the purpose of the election and for expenses of heating, lighting and cleaning any building or room for such purposeAuthorised Maximum

12

For adapting and fitting up any building or room for the purpose of the election (including the provision of voting compartments and any necessary furniture) and restoring it to fit condition for its normal useAuthorised Maximum

13

For providing ballot boxes, including any repairsAuthorised Maximum

14

For the conveyance of ballot boxes and ballot papers in those cases where the cost of transport is not included in the travelling expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks under paragraph I.6 aboveAuthorised Maximum

15

For every stamping instrument required to be purchased, hired, altered or repairedAuthorised Maximum

16

For copies of the electoral registerAuthorised Maximum

17

For general stationery, postage, telephone calls, bank charges and miscellaneous expensesAuthorised Maximum

II

In an uncontested election for all necessary preliminary work the amount shall be the same as the amount specified for corresponding work in a contested election.

Signed

Stephen Dorrell — Kenneth Carlisle — Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury — 12th June 1989

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and replace the European Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Expenses) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1984. They prescribe for Northern Ireland a revised scale increasing the maximum charges in respect of expenses incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland as returning officer for the purposes of or in connection with the European Parliamentary elections. For certain expenses the increase from 1984 is 31% plus an overall maximum addition of £25,000 above the sums paid to the returning officer in respect of the corresponding expenses incurred in connection with the 1984 European Parliamentary elections. Other increases are between 25% and 60%.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1983 c. 2.

[^f00002]: S.I. 1986/2250(d).

[^f00003]: 1978 c. 10.

[^f00004]: The words “European” were substituted for the words “European Assembly” by section 3(1) of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1986(c. 58).

[^f00005]: S.I. 1985/724(d).