The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Election Expenses) Order 1997

Made16th March 1997

Coming into force17th March 1997

Whereas a draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament;

And whereas in my opinion there has been a change in the value of money since 13th March 1994 justifying the variations made by this Order;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by sections 76A(1) and 197(3) of the Representation of the People Act 19831, I hereby make the following Order:

1. (1)

This Order may be cited as the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Election Expenses) Order 1997 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2)

Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Order do not extend to Northern Ireland.

(3)

In this Order “the Act of 1983” 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 “£4,642” and “5.2p” in section 76(2)(a)(i) of the Act of 19832, the words “£4,965” and “5.6p”, 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 “£4,642” and “3.9p” in section 76(2)(a)(ii) of the Act of 1983, the words “£4,965” and “4.2p”, respectively.

4.

The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a parliamentary by-election in a county constituency shall be varied by substituting for the words “£18,572” and “20.8p” in section 76(2)(aa)(i) of the Act of 19833, the words “£19,863” and “22.2p”, respectively.

5.

The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a parliamentary by-election in a borough constituency shall be varied by substituting for the words “£18,572” and “15.8p” in section 76(2)(aa)(ii) of the Act of 1983, the words “£19,863” and “16.9p”, respectively.

6.

The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a local government election shall be varied by substituting for the words “£205” and “4p” in section 76(2)(b)(ii) of the Act of 19834, the words “£219” and “4.3p”, respectively.

7.

The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at a ward election in the City of London shall be varied by substituting for the words “£205” and “4p” in section 197(1) of the Act of 19835, the words “£219” and “4.3p”, respectively.

8.

The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at an election by liverymen in common hall shall be varied by substituting for the words “21.8p” in section 197(2) of the Act of 19836, the words “23.3p”.

9.

The Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Election Expenses) Order 19947 is hereby revoked.

Michael Howard

One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State

Home Office

16th March 1997

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order increases the maximum amounts of candidates’ election expenses at parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom (articles 2 to 5), local government elections in Great Britain (article 6) and ward elections (article 7) and elections by liverymen in common hall (article 8) in the City of London.

The increases are such as are justified by the change in the value of money since the last occasion on which those maximum amounts were fixed. The last occasion was 13th March 1994 when the Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates’ Elections Expenses) Order 1994 was made.

Except in the case of the election by liverymen in common hall, the maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses is made up of a fixed sum (expressed in pounds) plus a sum expressed in pence (and fractions of pence) for, in the case of parliamentary and local government elections, each entry in the register of electors or, in the case of ward elections in the City of London, each elector. The maximum amount of a candidate’s election expenses at the election by liverymen in common hall is calculated by allowing an amount in pence (and fractions of pence) for every elector on the common hall register to be used at the election.