The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2012

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2012 No. 16

Representation Of The People

The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2012

Made

19th January 2012

Laid before the Scottish Parliament

23rd January 2012

Coming into force

12th March 2012

The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 76A(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(1) and all other powers enabling them to do so.

The Scottish Ministers consider that the variation of sums effected by this Order is expedient in consequence of changes to the value of money.

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Local Government Election Expenses) (Scotland) Order 2012 and comes into force on 12th March 2012.

(2) This Order extends to Scotland only.

(3) The variation made by article 2 applies only to local government elections held on or after 3rd May 2012.

Variation of expenses limits at a local government election

2.  The maximum amounts of a candidate’s election expenses at a local government election in Scotland are varied by substituting for the sums “£600” and “5p” in section 76(2)(b)(ii) of the Representation of the People Act 1983(2), the sums “£705” and “6p”, respectively.

DEREK MACKAY

Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

19th January 2012

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 2005.

The increased amounts reflect changes in the value of money since 2005.

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 for each entry in the register of electors.

(1)

1983 c.2; section 76A was substituted and deemed to be a pre-commencement enactment by sections 133(1) and 133(2) respectively of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c.41). The functions of the Secretary of State were transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46).

(2)

The sums in section 76(2)(b)(ii) were substituted by S.I.  1997/879, and substituted again in relation to local government elections in Scotland by S.S.I. 2003/76 and 2005/102.