The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2001

Statutory Instruments

2001 No. 535

REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE

The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2001

Made

26th February 2001

Coming into force

5th March 2001

Whereas the Secretary of State considers that the variation of the sums varied by this Order is expedient in consequence of changes to the value of money;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 76A(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(1), he hereby makes the following Order:

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2001 and shall come into force on the seventh day after the day on which it is made.

(2) Article 4 does not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland.

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

2.  The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a parliamentary general election, being an election in a county constituency, shall be varied by substituting for the words “£4,965” and “5.6p” in section 76(2)(a)(i) of the 1983 Act(2), the words “£5,483” and “6.2p”, respectively.

3.  The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a parliamentary general election, being an election in a borough constituency, shall be varied by substituting for the words “£4,965” and “4.2p” in section 76(2)(a)(ii) of the 1983 Act, the words “£5,483” and “4.6p”, respectively.

4.  The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a local government election (other than an election under the Greater London Authority Act 1999(3)) shall be varied by substituting for the words “£219” and “4.3p” in section 76(2)(b)(ii) of the 1983 Act(4), the words “£242” and “4.7p”, respectively.

Home Office

Mike O'Brien

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

26th February 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order increases the maximum amounts of candidates' election expenses at a parliamentary general election in the United Kingdom (articles 2 and 3) and local government elections in England and Wales, except elections under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (article 4). The maximum amount at a parliamentary by-election was increased by section 132(5) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

The increases are such as are expedient having regard to the changes in the value of money since the last occasion on which the maximum amounts were varied. The last occasion was 16th March 1997 when the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 1997 was made.

The maximum amount of a candidates' election expenses is made up of a fixed amount (expressed in pounds) plus a sum expressed in pence (and fractions of pence) for each entry in the register of electors.

(1)

1983 c. 2; section 76A was substituted by section 133(1) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41).

(2)

Section 76(2)(a) was amended by section 6(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1989 (c. 28) and the sums in section 76(2)(a) are as substituted by S.I. 1997/879. The reference in section 76(2) to a borough constituency has effect, in its application to Scotland, as a reference to a burgh constituency by virtue of section 204(2) of the 1983 Act.

(3)

1999 c. 29.

(4)

Section 76(2)(b) was amended by Schedule 3 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and the sums in that provision are as substituted by S.I. 1997/879.