The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2019

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2019 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland, except article 4(2)(o) which extends to Scotland only.

Revocation

2.  The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers’ Charges) (No. 2) Order 2017(1) is revoked.

Returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified services

3.—(1) The maximum recoverable amount in respect of the specified services for each constituency is the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 2 of the table in the Schedule.

(2) The specified services are—

(a) making arrangements for the parliamentary election;

(b) discharging the returning officer’s duties at the parliamentary election.

Returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses

4.—(1) The maximum recoverable amount in respect of the specified expenses for each constituency is the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 3 of the table in the Schedule.

(2) The specified expenses are those incurred in—

(a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the returning officer;

(b) travel and overnight subsistence for the returning officer and any person appointed to assist the returning officer;

(c) undertaking the nomination process;

(d) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;

(e) printing or otherwise producing or purchasing postal vote stationery;

(f) printing or otherwise producing and arranging for the delivery of poll cards;

(g) printing or otherwise producing and, where appropriate, publishing notices and any other documents required by any enactment or instrument for or in connection with the parliamentary election;

(h) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;

(i) providing and transporting equipment;

(j) providing information and communications technology, equipment and software, and associated costs;

(k) providing security, including secure storage or ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;

(l) conducting the verification and the count;

(m) providing and receiving training;

(n) providing stationery; and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items; and

(o) in a constituency in Scotland, the supply of copies of the register of electors for use in the conduct of the parliamentary election.

Returning officers: overall maximum recoverable amount

5.  The overall maximum recoverable amount for each constituency is the amount listed in the corresponding entry in column 4 of the table in the Schedule.

Overall maximum recoverable amount at an uncontested parliamentary election

6.  At an uncontested parliamentary election—

(a) articles 3 to 5 do not apply; and

(b) the overall maximum recoverable amount for each constituency is £1,750.

Oliver Dowden

Paymaster General & Minister for the Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office

4th November 2019

We consent to this Order

Michelle Donelan

Colin Clark

Two of the Lord Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

4th November 2019