The National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2011

Title, application and commencement

1.—(1) The title of this Order is the National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2011.

(2) This Order comes into force on 25 March 2011.

(3) This Order applies in relation to Wales.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order—

(a) “Assembly constituency” (“etholaeth Cynulliad”) is to be construed in accordance with section 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006;

(b) “Assembly electoral region” (“rhanbarth etholiadol Cynulliad”) is to be construed in accordance with section 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Revocation

3.  The National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2006(1) is revoked.

Overall maximum recoverable amount

4.  The overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 1.

Maximum recoverable amount for services at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum

5.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum in respect of the services of the description specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly constituency in column 2 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) The services are—

(a) making arrangements for the election;

(b) conducting the election;

(c) discharging all of a returning officer’s duties in respect of the election.

Maximum recoverable amount for expenses at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum

6.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a returning officer at a contested Assembly constituency election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum in respect of the expenses of the description specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly constituency in column 3 of the table in Schedule 1.

(2) The expenses are—

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

(b) reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses incurred by any person appointed to assist the returning officer and the returning officer;

(c) printing or production of ballot papers;

(d) printing and delivery of postal voting documents;

(e) printing and delivery of poll cards;

(f) printing and publishing of all election notices and documents;

(g) renting and adaptation of premises for use as polling stations or count centres, including heating, lighting, cleaning and restoring building or room to original condition;

(h) providing and transporting all equipment necessary for the conduct of the election and count;

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

(j) providing security and secure storage of electoral documents during the period of the election;

(k) conducting the verification and the count;

(l) providing and receiving training;

(m) the costs of miscellaneous items not accounted for elsewhere such as stationery, postage, telephone, printing and translation.

Overall maximum recoverable amount

7.  The overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum is the amount listed in column 4 of the table in Schedule 2.

Maximum recoverable amount for services at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum

8.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a regional returning officer at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum in respect of the services of the description specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly electoral region in column 2 of the table in Schedule 2.

(2) The services are—

(a) making arrangements for the election;

(b) conducting the election;

(c) discharging all of the regional returning officer duties in respect of the election.

Maximum recoverable amount for expenses at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum

9.—(1) The total of the charges recoverable by a regional returning officer at a contested Assembly regional election held on the same day as the Alternative Vote Referendum in respect of the expenses of the description specified in paragraph (2) must not exceed the amount listed for each Assembly electoral region in column 3 of the table in Schedule 2.

(2) The expenses are—

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

(b) reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses incurred by any person appointed to assist the regional returning officer and the regional returning officer;

(c) printing and publishing of notices;

(d) preparing the ballot paper;

(e) the costs of miscellaneous items not accounted for elsewhere such as stationery, postage, telephone, printing and translation.

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested Assembly constituency election

10.  At an uncontested Assembly constituency election—

(a) articles 4 to 6 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for services and expenses for each constituency is £1,750 (one thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds).

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested Assembly regional election

11.  At an uncontested Assembly regional election—

(a) articles 7 to 9 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for services and expenses for each region is £350 (three hundred and fifty pounds).

Carl Sargeant

Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, one of the Welsh Ministers

2 March 2011