The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007

Constituency and individual candidates: return as to election expenses

52.—(1) Within 35 days after the day on which the result or results of an Assembly election are declared the election agent of every—

(a) candidate, in the case of a constituency election; and

(b) individual candidate, in the case of a regional election,

at the election shall deliver to the appropriate returning officer a true return in manner as provided for in paragraph (8), containing as respects that candidate—

(i) a statement of all election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate; and

(ii) a statement of all payments made by the election agent together with all bills or receipts relating to the payments.

(2) A return under this section must—

(a) specify the poll by virtue of which the return is required;

(b) specify the name of the candidate to whom the return relates and of the candidate’s election agent; and

(c) deal under a separate heading with any expenses in respect of which a return is required by virtue of article 46(5).

(3) The return shall also contain as respects that candidate—

(a) a statement relating to such other expenses in connection with which provision is made by this Part as the Commission provide in regulations(1);

(b) a statement relating to such claims (whether paid, unpaid or disputed) in connection with such election expenses or such other expenses mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) as the Commission so provide; and

(c) a statement relating to such other matters as the Commission may provide in regulations.

(4) Until the coming into force of the first regulations made by the Commission under paragraph (3), the return shall also contain as respects that candidate—

(a) a statement of all payments made—

(i) by the candidate in accordance with article 44(1) or (2); or

(ii) by any other person in accordance with article 44(4),

together with all bills or receipts relating to any such payments made;

(b) a statement of all disputed claims of which the election agent is aware;

(c) a statement of all the unpaid claims, if any, of which the election agent is aware, in respect of which application has been or is about to be made to the High Court or county court;

(d) any declarations of value falling to be made by the candidate’s election agent by virtue of article 45(2) or 64(2);

(e) a declaration of the amount of expenses which are to be regarded as election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate by virtue of article 63(5)(b);

(f) a statement of donations made to the candidate or his election agent which complies with the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 12 of Schedule 6; and

(g) a statement of the amount, if any, of money provided by the candidate from his own resources for the purpose of meeting election expenses incurred by him or on his behalf.

(5) Paragraph (6) shall apply where, after the date at which the return as to election expenses is delivered, leave is given by the court under article 49(5) for any claims to be paid.

(6) The candidate or, as the case may be, his election agent shall, within seven days after its payment, deliver to the appropriate returning officer a return of the sums paid in pursuance of the leave accompanied by a copy of the order of the court giving the leave and in default he shall be deemed to have failed to comply with the requirements of this article without such authorised excuse as is mentioned in article 58.

(7) Any regulations under paragraph (3) may make different provision for different purposes and may contain such incidental, supplemental, saving or transitional provisions as the Commission thinks fit.

(8) The return shall be in form CW set out in English and Welsh in Schedule 10.

(1)

see Paragraphs 21 to 23 of Schedule 1 to the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 as to regulations made by the Commission.