The Returning Officers' Charges Order 1991

Made: 24th July 1991

Coming into force: 26th July 1991

The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 29(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983[^f00001], hereby make the following Order:—

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Returning Officers' Charges Order 1991 and shall come into force on 26th July 1991.

• (2) This Order extends to Great Britain only.

2

• (1) Services and expenses of a kind set out in the Schedule to this Order are hereby specified for the purposes of paragraph (a) of section 29(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which provides that a returning officer is entitled to recover his charges in respect of services properly rendered, or expenses properly incurred, for or in connection with a parliamentary election if the services or expenses are of a kind so specified and the charges are reasonable).

• (2) Maximum recoverable amounts are hereby specified in the right-hand column of Parts A and B of the Schedule to this Order in respect of services or expenses of the descriptions specified opposite thereto in the left-hand column of those Parts.

SCHEDULE — SERVICES AND EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF WHICH A RETURNING OFFICER AT A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN GREAT BRITAIN MAY RECOVER HIS CHARGES

PART A: — MAXIMUM RECOVERABLE AMOUNTS FOR SERVICES OF RETURNING OFFICER

I

In a contested election:

II

In an uncontested election, for the services specified in paragraph I.1 of this part of the Schedule the amount shall be one-third of the sum prescribed thereunder.

III

For services in connection with the preparation, maintenance and issue of official poll cards:

• For each constituency:

PART B: — EXPENSES OF RETURNING OFFICER FOR SHICH MAXIMUM RECOVERABLE AMOUNTS ARE SPECIFIED

1

• (a) For the presiding officer at each polling station (to include all expenses, other than any travelling and overnight subsistence expenses recoverable under Part C of this Schedule)

2

• (a) For one clerk at each polling station

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 the cards:

4

For the employment of persons in connection with the count and the ballot papers of electors entitled to vote by post, and for all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer for the purposes of the election, including charges for day subsistence expenses and for super-annuation contributions where payable.

• (a) If the number of entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) in the constituency does not exceed 50,000

PART C: — EXPENSES OF RUTURNING OFFICER FOR WHICH NO MAXIMUM RECOVERABLE AMOUNTS ARE SPECIFIED

5

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

6

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 purpose.

7

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 use.

8

For providing ballot boxes, including any repairs.

9

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 2 of this Part of the Schedule.

10

For every stamping instrument required to be purchased, hired, altered or repaired.

11

For copies of the electoral register.

12

For general stationery, postage, telephone calls, bank charges and miscellaneous expenses.

Signed

Gregory Knight — Sydney Chapman — Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury — 24th July 1991

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order specifies, in relation to England, Wales and Scotland, the services rendered and expenses incurred by a returning officer for the purposes of or in connection with a parliamentary election in respect of which he is entitled to recover his charges. The Schedule to the Order is in three parts—

Part A prescribes maximum recoverable amounts for services rendered by a returning officer;

Part B lists expenses incurred by a returning officer in respect of which a maximum recoverable amount is specified; and

Part C lists expenses in respect of which no maximum recoverable amount is specified.

The Order replaces the Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/691), which ceased to have effect on the coming into force on 22nd July 1991 of the Representation of the People Act 1991.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1983 c. 2 ; section 29 was amended by the Representation of the People Act 1991 (c. 11), section 1.