Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the scheme under which the Certification Officer makes payments to independent trade unions in respect of postal, printing and stationery expenses which they have incurred in holding secret postal ballots for certain purposes. The amendments are largely made to reflect additions and changes to the statutory requirements in respect of certain ballots brought in by the Employment Act 1988 and coming into force on 26th July 1988.
In particular, amendments made by these Regulations link the conditions for payment under the scheme —
in the case of certain election ballots, to the requirements of section 13 of the 1988 Act as regards election addresses;
in the case of certain industrial action ballots, to the requirements of section 17 of the Act as regards ballots affecting different places of work.
Other minor and consequential changes are also made to the scheme.
These Regulations come into force on 26th July 1988 and the amendments they contain apply to ballots in which voting begins on or after that date.