The National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers' Accounts) Regulations 2011

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the time when, manner and form in which accounts are to be rendered to the Welsh Ministers by returning officers in connection with the National Assembly for Wales elections.

Article 23 of the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007 provides that a constituency or a regional returning officer is entitled to recover charges in respect of services rendered or expenses incurred in connection with an Assembly election. Article 23(10) provides that the Welsh Ministers may make provision regarding the manner and the form in which accounts are to be rendered to the Welsh Ministers for the purpose of the payment of a returning officer’s charges.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations relates to the submission of accounts by a constituency or regional returning officer.

Regulation 3(1) specifies that an account must be submitted within eight months starting from the day on which the National Assembly for Wales election is held, to which the account relates.

Regulation 3(2) provides that a constituency or regional returning officer may submit an account to recover some of the charges that the officer is entitled to recover. This is known as an incomplete account and must be submitted together with a statement.

Regulation 3(3) provides that when an incomplete account is submitted the statement must include the reason for the submission of the incomplete account and the proposed date when the complete account will be submitted. This date must be agreed with the Principal Accounting Officer.

Regulation 3(4) provides that an account must be submitted together with a receipt and a certificate. Provision is given for the content of the receipt and the form of words to be used within the certificate.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations specifies the form of accounts to be submitted to the Welsh Ministers. Regulation 4(1) provides that the account must list each item charged for separately. Regulation 4(2) provides that an item to be listed within the account relates to a service rendered or expense incurred for or in connection with the National Assembly for Wales election to which the account relates.