The Returning Officer’s Charges (Northern Ireland) 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 Officer’s Charges (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and shall come into force on 26th July 1991.

• (2) This Order extends to Northern Ireland only.

2

• (1) 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 Part A of the Schedule to this Order in respect of services or expenses of the descriptions specified opposite thereto in the left-hand column of that Part.

SCHEDULE — EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF WHICH A RETURNING OFFICER AT APARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAYRECOVER HIS CHARGES

PART A — EXPENSES OF RETURNING OFFICER FOR WHICH MAXIMUM RECOVERABLE AMOUNTS ARE SPECIFIED

I

In a contested election:

1

• (a) For the presiding officer at each polling station (to include all expenses, other than any travelling and overnight subsistence expenses recoverable underPart B hereof)

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:

• For every 100 cards or fraction thereof

4

For the employment of person 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 superannuation 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

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, except that 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 superannuation contributions where payable, the amount shall not be more than one-quarter of the amount specified under paragraph 1.4 of this Part of the Schedule.

PART B — EXPENSES OF RETURNING 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 Northern Ireland, the expenses incurred by the 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 Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland is the returning officer for each constituency in Northern Ireland by virtue of section 26 of the Representation of the People Act 1983. The Schedule to the Order is in two parts–

Part A lists expenses incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer in respect of which a maximum recoverable amount is specified; and

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

The Order replaces the Returning Officer’s Expenses (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1990 (S.I. 1990/1065), 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.