Citation, commencement and extent

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Charges) (No. 2) Order 2017 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 5(2)(o) which extends to Scotland only.

Revocation

2.  The Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2017(2) is revoked.

Returning officers: overall maximum recoverable amount

3.  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.

Returning officers: maximum recoverable amount for specified services

4.-(1) The maximum recoverable amount in respect of 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

5.-(1) The maximum recoverable amount in respect of 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 of 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;

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

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.

Articles 3, 4(1) and 5(1)

SCHEDULEOverall maximum recoverable amounts and maximum recoverable amounts for specified services and specified expenses for each constituency where a parliamentary election is a standalone poll.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order provides for payments for services and expenses of returning officers in connection with the conduct of parliamentary elections in England, Wales and Scotland. It replaces the Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers' Charges) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/637).

Under section 29(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c.2) a returning officer may recover their charges for services and expenses, provided they were necessarily rendered or incurred for the efficient and effective conduct of the parliamentary election and the total does not exceed the overall maximum recoverable amount specified by the Minister in an order. Section 29(3A) enables the Minister to specify by order a maximum recoverable amount for particular services or expenses.

Articles 3, 4(1) and 5(1) and the Schedule specify the maximum amounts recoverable by returning officers when a parliamentary election is a standalone poll. On the day of the 2017 parliamentary general election no other elections will be taking place.

The table in the Schedule lists by constituency the maximum recoverable amount for specified services (column 2), the maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses (column 3) and the overall maximum recoverable amount (column 4).

In the case of an uncontested parliamentary election, article 6 provides that articles 3 to 5 do not apply. Instead the overall maximum recoverable amount is £1,750 for each constituency.

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument because no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.