The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2010

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2010 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order extends to England, Wales and Scotland.

(3) In this Order “the 1983 Act” means the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Revocation

2.  The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2005(1) is revoked.

Overall maximum recoverable amount

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the overall maximum recoverable amount for each constituency is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) Where, in a constituency listed in Schedule 2, the poll at a parliamentary general election in 2010 is taken together with the ordinary day of election of councillors under section 37 of the 1983 Act(2), the overall maximum recoverable amount for that constituency is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 2(3).

Maximum recoverable amount for specified services

4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer in respect of the services of the description specified in article 5 shall not exceed the amount listed for each constituency in column 2 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) Where, in a constituency listed in Schedule 2, the poll at a parliamentary general election in 2010 is taken together with the ordinary day of election of councillors under section 37 of the 1983 Act, the total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer in respect of the services of the description specified in article 5 shall not exceed the amount listed for that constituency in column 2 of the table in Schedule 2.

5.  The specified services are—

(a) conducting the election;

(b) discharging the returning officer’s duties at the election; and

(c) making arrangements for the election.

Maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer in respect of the expenses of the description specified in article 7 shall not exceed the amount listed for each constituency in column 3 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) Where, in a constituency listed in Schedule 2, the poll at a parliamentary general election in 2010 is taken together with the ordinary day of election of councillors under section 37 of the 1983 Act, the total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer in respect of the expenses of the description specified in article 7(a) to (n) shall not exceed the amount listed for that constituency in column 3 of the table in Schedule 2.

7.  The specified expenses are—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the returning officer and any person appointed to assist the returning officer;

(c) the costs of the nomination process;

(d) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;

(e) printing, producing or purchasing postal vote stationery;

(f) printing or otherwise producing and arranging for the delivery of poll cards;

(g) printing or otherwise producing and, where appropriate, publishing notices and any other documents required by any enactment for or in connection with a parliamentary election;

(h) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;

(i) providing and transporting equipment;

(j) providing information and communications technology equipment and software and associated costs;

(k) providing security, including any necessary secure storage of ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;

(l) conducting the verification and the count;

(m) providing and receiving training;

(n) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items; and

(o) in a constituency in Scotland, the supply of copies of the register of electors for use in the conduct of the election.

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested election

8.  At an uncontested election—

(a) articles 3 to 7 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for each constituency is £1,750.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

Michael Wills

Minister of State

Ministry of Justice

5th March 2010

We consent to this Order.

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

Steve McCabe

Bob Blizzard

15th March 2010