Representation of the People Act 1985

Deposits and expenses at elections

13 Deposit by candidates at parliamentary elections.

In Schedule 1 to the principal Act (parliamentary elections rules)—

(a) in rule 9(1) (nomination not valid unless £150 deposited with the returning officer) for " £150 " there shall be substituted " £500"; and

(b) in rule 53(4) (forfeiture of deposit where a candidate has polled not more than one-eighth of the total votes) for "one-eighth" there shall be substituted " one-twentieth".

14 Election expenses

(1) In section 73(2) of the principal Act (payments made by election agent to be vouched for by bill and receipt except where less than £2) for " £2 " there shall be substituted " £20".

(2) In section 74(1) of that Act (candidate's personal election expenses may be met by him if they do not exceed £100, the excess being paid by his election agent) for "£100" there shall be substituted " £600".

(3) In section 75(1) of that Act (no election expenses to be incurred by persons other than candidate, election agent or persons authorised by him) in paragraph (ii) (exception for expenses not exceeding 50p in aggregate) for "50p " there shall be substituted " £5".

(4) After section 76 of that Act there shall be inserted the following section—

“76A Power to vary provisions concerning election expenses.

(1) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument vary the sum specified in section 73(2), 74(1) or 75(1) above or a maximum amount of candidate's election expenses specified in section 76(2) above where in his opinion there has been a change in the value of money since the last occasion on which that sum or, as the case may be, amount was fixed (whether by such an order or otherwise) and the variation shall be such as in his opinion is justified by that change.

(2) An order under subsection (1) above shall not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

(5) In section 90(1) of that Act (election expenses at elections of parish or community councillors) there shall be inserted at the end—

“(c) section 76A(1) has effect as if for the reference to the sum specified in section 73(2), 74(1) or 75(1) above there were substituted a reference to the sum specified in paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to this Act”.

(6) In paragraph 3 of Schedule 4 to that Act (candidates at elections of parish or community councillors to send in return of all election expenses vouched, except where less than £1, by bills and receipts) for " £1 " there shall be substituted " £10".