1990 No. 691

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE

The Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 1990

Made

Coming into force

The Treasury, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 29(3) of the Representation of the People Act 19831, hereby make the following Regulations:–

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 1990 and shall come into force on 21st March 1990.

2

The maximum charges to which a returning officer at a parliamentary election in England, Wales and Scotland shall be entitled are:–

a

in respect of services rendered by him, the amounts specified in Part A of the Schedule to these Regulations; and

b

in respect of expenses incurred by him, the amounts specified in Part B of the said Schedule.

3

The Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 19872 and the Returning Officers' Expenses (Amendment) Regulations 19893 are hereby revoked.

David LightbownJohn TaylorTwo of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

SCHEDULESCALE OF MAXIMUM CHARGES IN RESPECT OF SERVICES RENDERED AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY A RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE PURPOSES OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

Regulation 2

Only the fees and disbursements specified hereunder shall be chargeable and in particular a returning officer shall not be entitled to charge as an expense payments which he makes from his fees (or otherwise) to a deputy acting returning officer or deputy returning officer by way of remuneration for performing functions of the returning officer.

PART A – FEES

£

I. In a contested election:

1

For conducting the election and generally performing duties which a returning officer is required to perform under any enactments relating to parliamentary elections, other than any duties for which separate fees are prescribed herein:

For each constituency

862.60

In addition, if the number of entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) exceeds 50,000 there shall be paid:

For every 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 50,000 up to 60,000

5.86

For every 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 60,000

4.63

Provided that the amount payable to a returning officer in England and Wales responsible for more than three constituencies or in Scotland responsible for more than three constituencies situated wholly or mainly within the same district council area shall be reduced as follows:

For each constituency exceeding three but not exceeding six, a reduction of

187.99

For each constituency exceeding six, a reduction of

278.26

2

For services in connection with the despatch and receipt of the ballot papers of persons entitled to vote by post:

For each constituency

45.15

In addition, if the number of persons entitled to vote by post in the constituency exceeds 500, there shall be paid:

For every 50 or fraction thereof over 500 up to 2,000

1.37

For every 50 or fraction thereof over 2,000

0.42

II. In an uncontested election, for the services specified in paragraph I.1 of this Part of the Schedule the amount shall be one-third of the sum prescribed thereunder.

III. For services in connection with the preparation, maintenance and issue of official poll cards:

For each constituency:

a

For the preparation, the first revision and the issue of the cards on the occasion of an election

270.90

Provided that the amount payable to a returning officer in England and Wales responsible for more than three constituencies or in Scotland responsible for more than three constituencies situated wholly or mainly within the same district council area shall be reduced as follows:

For each constituency exceeding three but not exceeding six, a reduction of

84.84

For each constituency exceeding six, a reduction of

126.90

b

For each revision and preparation after the first prior to the issue of the cards

90.09

PART B – DISBURSEMENTS

£

In this Part of the Schedule, “authorised maximum” in relation to an expense specified hereunder means, in relation to each constituency, the sum paid to the returning officer for that constituency in respect of the corresponding expense incurred in connection with the parliamentary election held in the constituency on 11th June 1987 increased by 21 per cent. For the purposes hereof a constituency as now constituted shall be treated as the same constituency as the one which bore the same name on 11th June 1987 notwithstanding any changes of boundaries since that date. Provided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge in respect of all the expenses specified hereunder in relation to which the maximum amounts are specified to be the “authorised maximum” shall be the total of the maximum amounts so specified increased by £3,300 notwithstanding that the amount disbursed by him for any particular expense so specified is greater than the amount specified hereunder as the maximum amount for that expense.

Except as expressly provided in this Part of the Schedule, in no case shall a charge exceed the sum actually and necessarily paid or payable by the returning officer. Subject thereto the maximum charges shall be as follows:

I. In a contested election:

1

a

For the presiding officer at each polling station (to include all expenses, other than any travelling and overnight subsistence expenses specified in this Part of the Schedule)

84.00

b

For any person who takes over the duties of a presiding officer because of the incapacity of that presiding officer on the day of the election (with the like inclusion)

84.00

In addition, a further sum, not exceeding £5.25 may be paid to one of the presiding officers at a polling place to which there are assigned not less than 3,000 entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published), where the returning officer determines that such a payment is necessary for the effective conduct of the election.

2

a

For one clerk at each polling station

52.50

b

For additional clerks at a polling station either being clerks at a polling station to which there are assigned more than 700 entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) such additional clerks not to exceed one clerk for every 600 entries or fraction thereof in excess of 700, or being clerks whose employment is determined to be necessary by the returning officer for the effective conduct of the election:

For each additional clerk (whole-time or part-time as the case may require)

52.50

3

—

1

For the employment of persons in connection with the manual preparation and issue of the official poll cards, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:

a

For the initial preparation of the cards:

For every 100 cards or fraction thereof

3.36

b

For each revision not confined to a particular section of the cards:

i

For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared on initial preparation

0.53

ii

For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared

3.36

Provided that if the number of new cards does not exceed 15 per cent of the number prepared on the initial preparation, the maximum charge for the revision shall be increased by 5 per cent.

c

For the revision of a particular section only of the cards:

For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared

3.36

d

For the completion and issue of the cards on the occasion of an election:

For every 100 cards or fraction thereof issued (or withdrawn in respect of voters entitled to vote by post)

1.73

2

For the employment of persons in connection with the issue of poll cards which have not been prepared manually, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:

For every 100 cards or fraction thereof

1.10

Provided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be the total of the maximum amounts specified for such of the stages of work represented by subparagraphs (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (2) hereunder as he has carried out, notwithstanding that the amount disbursed by him for any particular stage is greater than the amount specified hereunder as the maximum amount for that stage; provided also that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be increased by any amount by which the maximum amount which he is entitled to charge under paragraph 4 below exceeds the amount disbursed by him for the purposes described in that paragraph.

4

For the employment of persons in connection with the count and the ballot papers of electors entitled to vote by post, and for all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer for the purposes of the election, including charges for day subsistence expenses and for superannuation contributions where payable.

a

If the number of entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) in the constituency does not exceed 50,000

2,739.45

For every additional 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 50,000

34.18

b

For every 100 persons or fraction thereof entitled to vote by post

31.03

c

In the event of a recount of the votes being ordered:

For each recount

273.59

Provided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be increased by any amount by which the maximum amount which he is entitled to charge under paragraph 3 above exceeds the amount disbursed by him for the purposes described in that paragraph.

5

Returning officer's, deputy returning officer's, acting returning officer’s or deputy acting returning officer’s travelling and overnight subsistence expenses where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the election.

Authorised Maximum

6

Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks (including any expenses incurred in conveying the ballot boxes in those cases in which presiding officers or poll clerks are responsible for the transport of the boxes to or from the polling stations).

Authorised Maximum

7

Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of clerical and other assistants employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the election.

Authorised Maximum

8

For printing and providing ballot papers.

Authorised Maximum

9

For printing and providing official poll cards.

Authorised Maximum

10

For printing and providing notices and other documents required in and about the election or poll and costs of publishing the same.

Authorised Maximum

11

For the renting of any building or room for the purpose of the election and for expenses of heating, lighting and cleaning any building or room for such purpose.

Authorised Maximum

12

For adapting and fitting up any building or room for the purpose of the election (including the provision of voting compartments and any necessary furniture) and restoring it to fit condition for its normal use.

Authorised Maximum

13

For providing ballot boxes, including any repairs.

Authorised Maximum

14

For the conveyance of ballot boxes and ballot papers in those cases where the cost of transport is not included in the travelling expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks under paragraph I.6 of this Part of the Schedule.

Authorised Maximum

15

For every stamping instrument required to be purchased, hired, altered or repaired.

Authorised Maximum

16

For copies of the electoral register.

Authorised Maximum

17

For general stationery, postage, telephone calls, bank charges and miscellaneous expenses.

Authorised Maximum

II. In an uncontested election, for all necessary preliminary work the amount shall be the same as the amount specified for corresponding work in a contested election, except that for all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer for the purposes of the election, including charges for day subsistence expenses and for superannuation contributions where payable, the amount shall not be more than one-quarter of the amount specified under paragraph I.4 of this Part of the Schedule.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 1987 and the Returning Officers' Expenses (Amendment) Regulations 1989 (S.I.1987/899 and S.I.1989/741). They prescribe, in relation to England, Wales and Scotland, a revised scale further increasing the maximum fees in respect of services rendered and the maximum charges in respect of expenses incurred by a returning officer for the purposes of or in connection with a parliamentary election. For certain expenses the increase from 1987 is 21% plus an overall addition of £3,300 above the sums paid to the returning officer in respect of the corresponding expenses incurred in connection with the 1987 parliamentary election. Other increases are between 15% and 20% save that the maximum charges prescribed for the presiding officer and poll clerk are increased by 29% and 26% respectively.