“(1)

The local returning officer must make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents after the delivery of the ballot papers to him by the returning officer who discharges the functions specified in regulation 96 of the 1986 (Scotland) Regulations —

(a)

in the case of a general election of MEPs, before or after the material time and in either case so that the requirements of rule 57(1) are satisfied as soon as practicable after the material time;

(b)

in the case of a by-election, as soon as practicable after that delivery,

and must give to the counting agents and the returning officer notice in writing of the time after which he will begin to count the votes if by then he has received the ballot papers and of the place at which the count will take place.”