The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2005

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order increases the maximum amounts of candidates' election expenses at local government elections in Scotland.

These amounts were last increased by the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2003 (“the 2003 Order”), which is revoked by article 3 of this Order.

The increased amounts were recommended by the Electoral Commission in their report, Variation of election expenses at UK Parliamentary and local government elections, which recommended that parity throughout the United Kingdom would be desirable. The increases have regard to the increase in the value of money since expense limits were last varied and the impact of the effect of sections 90A to 90C of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (amended by section 134 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41)) on the definition of election expenses.

Similar increases to the maximum amounts of candidates' election expenses at a parliamentary general election in the United Kingdom and at local government elections in England and Wales have been made by the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates' Election Expenses) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/269).

The maximum amount of a candidate’s 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.