Citation, commencement and extent

1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the European Parliamentary Elections (Local Returning Officers' Charges) (Scotland) Order 2009 and shall come into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

(2) This Order extends to Scotland only.

Interpretation

2. In this Order–

“2004 Regulations” means the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004;

“election” means a European Parliamentary election;

“local counting area” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the 2004 Regulations( 3 ); and

“register of electors” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the 2004 Regulations.

Revocation

3.The European Parliamentary Elections (Local Returning Officers' Charges) (Great Britain and Gibraltar) Order 2004( 4 ) is revoked.

Maximum amounts for services and expenses in respect of which a local returning officer at a contested European Parliamentary election may recover his charges

4. —(1) This article provides for the maximum amounts recoverable by a local returning officer in respect of a contested election.

(2) The maximum recoverable amounts for the services specified in Part A of the Schedule to this Order are the amounts specified in that Part

(3) The maximum recoverable amounts for the expenses specified in column 1 of the table in Part B of the Schedule are the amounts specified in the corresponding entries in column 2 of that table.

(4) The maximum recoverable amount for the expenses specified in Part C of the Schedule is £500,000.

Maximum amounts for services and expenses in respect of which a local returning officer at an uncontested European Parliamentary election may recover his charges

5. —(1) This article provides for the maximum amounts recoverable by a local returning officer in respect of an uncontested election.

(2) The maximum recoverable amounts are–

(a) £479 in respect of the services specified in paragraph 1(1) of Part A of the Schedule;

(b) £1,183 in respect of the expenses specified in column 1 of the table in Part B of the Schedule; and

(c) Nil in respect of the expenses specified in Part C of the Schedule.

(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (b) of regulation 15(1) of the 2004 Regulations the overall maximum recoverable amount is the aggregate of the amounts specified in paragraph (2).

Articles 4 and 5

SCHEDULE SERVICES AND EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF WHICH A LOCAL RETURNING OFFICER AT A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN SCOTLAND MAY RECOVER HIS CHARGES

PART A

Services of local returning officer for which specific maximum recoverable amounts are specified

1. —(1) This paragraph makes provision for a local returning officer’s services in conducting the election in any local counting area for which he is responsible, discharging his duties in connection with the election and making arrangements for the election.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), the maximum recoverable amount for each such local counting area for the services specified in sub-paragraph (1) is the aggregate of–

(a) £1,250; and

(b) £475 for every 10,000 entries, or fraction thereof, in the register of electors for the local counting area.

(3) Where the poll at the election in any local counting area for which the local returning officer is responsible is taken together with the poll at another election or referendum, the maximum recoverable amount determined under sub-paragraph (2) shall be increased by 15%.

PART B

Expenses of local returning officer for which specific maximum recoverable amounts are specified

PART C

Expenses of local returning officer for which a maximum recoverable amount is specified

1. Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of–

(a) the local returning officer;

(b) officers whose services are placed at the local returning officer’s disposal under section 6(7) of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002( 5 );

(c) presiding officers and poll clerks; and

(d) clerical and other assistants employed by the local returning officer.

2. Expenses in printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers.

3. Expenses in printing or otherwise producing the official poll cards and notifications and in delivering them to the voters, excluding the expenses referred to in paragraph 3(1) of Part B of this Schedule.

4. Expenses in printing or otherwise producing and, where appropriate, publishing notices and other documents required by the 2004 Regulations.

5. Expenses in renting, heating, lighting and cleaning any building or room.

6. Expenses in adapting any building or room and in restoring it to a fit condition for its normal use.

7. Expenses in the provision of voting compartments and any other furniture and equipment necessary for polling stations.

8. Expenses in the provision of ballot boxes.

9. Expenses in the provision of any furniture and equipment necessary for the purposes of sorting and counting the ballot papers at the count.

10. Expenses in the conveyance to and from the polling stations of–

(a) the ballot boxes and ballot papers; and

(b) the voting compartments, any other furniture and equipment necessary for polling stations.

11. Expenses in the provision of stationery and writing implements and the expenses of postage, telephone and bank charges and other miscellaneous items.

12. Expenses in connection with the provision of security measures.

13. Expenses in respect of–

(a) the preparation, revision, issue and receipt of the official poll cards and notifications, and

(b) the preparation, revision, issue and receipt of postal ballot papers,

excluding the expenses referred to in paragraph 3(1) of Part B of this Schedule.