(1)A returning officer shall be entitled to recover expenditure properly incurred by him in relation to the holding of the first ordinary election if the expenditure—
(a)is of a kind determined by the Secretary of State; and
(b)is reasonable.
(2)The Secretary of State may determine a maximum recoverable amount for expenditure of such description as he may determine; and the returning officer may not recover more than that amount in respect of any such expenditure.
(3)The amount of any expenditure recoverable in accordance with this section shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund on an account being submitted to the Secretary of State; but the Secretary of State must, before payment, satisfy himself that the expenditure in the account is properly payable.
(4)A returning officer must furnish the Secretary of State with such information or documents relating to an account submitted under subsection (3) above as the Secretary of State may require.
(5)The Secretary of State must prepare an account of any sums which are issued to him out of the Consolidated Fund by virtue of this section and of his use of those sums.
(6)The account required to be prepared under subsection (5) above must be audited by such body or person as the Treasury may determine.
(7)Any exercise by the Secretary of State of his functions under subsections (1) and (2) above shall require the consent of the Treasury.
(8)This section has effect in relation to the first ordinary election instead of section 36(4B) of the Representation of the M1People Act 1983.