(1)A Minister of the Crown (with the consent of the Treasury) may by order make provision for the payment by the Electoral Commission of any of the following—
(a)the charges in respect of services properly rendered or expenses properly incurred by a counting officer in connection with a referendum held in pursuance of an order under this Part;
(b)the sum equal to any increase in the superannuation contributions required to be paid by a local authority in respect of any person in consequence of a fee paid as part of a counting officer’s charges under paragraph (a).
(2)The order may include provision as to—
(a)the services and expenses or descriptions of services and expenses in respect of which payment may be made;
(b)the maximum amount to be paid or reimbursed in respect of such services and expenses or descriptions of services and expenses;
(c)payments in advance;
(d)accounts to be submitted.
(3)Counting officer includes a person appointed in pursuance of an order under section 2(9) for the purpose of certifying the number of ballot papers or votes cast in a referendum held in pursuance of an order under section 2(2).