{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/returning-officers-expenses-regulations-1990/schedule",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/returning-officers-expenses-regulations-1990/schedule.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1990/691",
  "legislation_title": "The Returning Officers' Expenses Regulations 1990",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/returning-officers-expenses-regulations-1990",
  "path": "schedule",
  "kind": "schedule",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "SCALE OF MAXIMUM CHARGES IN RESPECT OF SERVICES RENDERED AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY A RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE PURPOSES OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION",
  "text": "Only the fees and disbursements specified hereunder shall be chargeable and in particular a returning officer shall not be entitled to charge as an expense payments which he makes from his fees (or otherwise) to a deputy acting returning officer or deputy returning officer by way of remuneration for performing functions of the returning officer.\nPART A – FEES\n£\nI. In a contested election:\n1 For conducting the election and generally performing duties which a returning officer is required to perform under any enactments relating to parliamentary elections, other than any duties for which separate fees are prescribed herein:\nFor each constituency\n862.60\nIn addition, if the number of entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) exceeds 50,000 there shall be paid:\nFor every 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 50,000 up to 60,000\n5.86\nFor every 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 60,000\n4.63\nProvided that the amount payable to a returning officer in England and Wales responsible for more than three constituencies or in Scotland responsible for more than three constituencies situated wholly or mainly within the same district council area shall be reduced as follows:\nFor each constituency exceeding three but not exceeding six, a reduction of\n187.99\nFor each constituency exceeding six, a reduction of\n278.26\n2 For services in connection with the despatch and receipt of the ballot papers of persons entitled to vote by post:\nFor each constituency\n45.15\nIn addition, if the number of persons entitled to vote by post in the constituency exceeds 500, there shall be paid:\nFor every 50 or fraction thereof over 500 up to 2,000\n1.37\nFor every 50 or fraction thereof over 2,000\n0.42\nII. In an uncontested election, for the services specified in paragraph I.1 of this Part of the Schedule the amount shall be one-third of the sum prescribed thereunder.\nIII. For services in connection with the preparation, maintenance and issue of official poll cards:\nFor each constituency:\n(a) For the preparation, the first revision and the issue of the cards on the occasion of an election\n270.90\nProvided that the amount payable to a returning officer in England and Wales responsible for more than three constituencies or in Scotland responsible for more than three constituencies situated wholly or mainly within the same district council area shall be reduced as follows:\nFor each constituency exceeding three but not exceeding six, a reduction of\n84.84\nFor each constituency exceeding six, a reduction of\n126.90\n(b) For each revision and preparation after the first prior to the issue of the cards\n90.09\nPART B – DISBURSEMENTS\n£\nIn this Part of the Schedule, “authorised maximum” in relation to an expense specified hereunder means, in relation to each constituency, the sum paid to the returning officer for that constituency in respect of the corresponding expense incurred in connection with the parliamentary election held in the constituency on 11th June 1987 increased by 21 per cent. For the purposes hereof a constituency as now constituted shall be treated as the same constituency as the one which bore the same name on 11th June 1987 notwithstanding any changes of boundaries since that date. Provided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge in respect of all the expenses specified hereunder in relation to which the maximum amounts are specified to be the “authorised maximum” shall be the total of the maximum amounts so specified increased by £3,300 notwithstanding that the amount disbursed by him for any particular expense so specified is greater than the amount specified hereunder as the maximum amount for that expense.\nExcept as expressly provided in this Part of the Schedule, in no case shall a charge exceed the sum actually and necessarily paid or payable by the returning officer. Subject thereto the maximum charges shall be as follows:\nI. In a contested election:\n1 (a) For the presiding officer at each polling station (to include all expenses, other than any travelling and overnight subsistence expenses specified in this Part of the Schedule)\n84.00\n(b) For any person who takes over the duties of a presiding officer because of the incapacity of that presiding officer on the day of the election (with the like inclusion)\n84.00\nIn addition, a further sum, not exceeding £5.25 may be paid to one of the presiding officers at a polling place to which there are assigned not less than 3,000 entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published), where the returning officer determines that such a payment is necessary for the effective conduct of the election.\n2 (a) For one clerk at each polling station\n52.50\n(b) For additional clerks at a polling station either being clerks at a polling station to which there are assigned more than 700 entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) such additional clerks not to exceed one clerk for every 600 entries or fraction thereof in excess of 700, or being clerks whose employment is determined to be necessary by the returning officer for the effective conduct of the election:\nFor each additional clerk (whole-time or part-time as the case may require)\n52.50\n3 —\n(1) For the employment of persons in connection with the manual preparation and issue of the official poll cards, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:\n(a) For the initial preparation of the cards:\nFor every 100 cards or fraction thereof\n3.36\n(b) For each revision not confined to a particular section of the cards:\n(i) For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared on initial preparation\n0.53\n(ii) For every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared\n3.36\nProvided that if the number of new cards does not exceed 15 per cent of the number prepared on the initial preparation, the maximum charge for the revision shall be increased by 5 per cent.\n(c) For the revision of a particular section only of the cards:\nFor every 100 new cards or fraction thereof prepared\n3.36\n(d) For the completion and issue of the cards on the occasion of an election:\nFor every 100 cards or fraction thereof issued (or withdrawn in respect of voters entitled to vote by post)\n1.73\n(2) For the employment of persons in connection with the issue of poll cards which have not been prepared manually, including charges for superannuation contributions where payable:\nFor every 100 cards or fraction thereof\n1.10\nProvided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be the total of the maximum amounts specified for such of the stages of work represented by subparagraphs (1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and (2) hereunder as he has carried out, notwithstanding that the amount disbursed by him for any particular stage is greater than the amount specified hereunder as the maximum amount for that stage; provided also that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be increased by any amount by which the maximum amount which he is entitled to charge under paragraph 4 below exceeds the amount disbursed by him for the purposes described in that paragraph.\n4 For the employment of persons in connection with the count and the ballot papers of electors entitled to vote by post, and for all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer for the purposes of the election, including charges for day subsistence expenses and for superannuation contributions where payable.\n(a) If the number of entries in the register of electors to be used at the election (as first published) in the constituency does not exceed 50,000\n2,739.45\nFor every additional 1,000 entries or fraction thereof over 50,000\n34.18\n(b) For every 100 persons or fraction thereof entitled to vote by post\n31.03\n(c) In the event of a recount of the votes being ordered:\nFor each recount\n273.59\nProvided that the maximum amount which a returning officer shall be entitled to charge under this paragraph shall be increased by any amount by which the maximum amount which he is entitled to charge under paragraph 3 above exceeds the amount disbursed by him for the purposes described in that paragraph.\n5 Returning officer's, deputy returning officer's, acting returning officer’s or deputy acting returning officer’s travelling and overnight subsistence expenses where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the election.\nAuthorised Maximum\n6 Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks (including any expenses incurred in conveying the ballot boxes in those cases in which presiding officers or poll clerks are responsible for the transport of the boxes to or from the polling stations).\nAuthorised Maximum\n7 Travelling and overnight subsistence expenses of clerical and other assistants employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer where necessary to make arrangements for the poll or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the election.\nAuthorised Maximum\n8 For printing and providing ballot papers.\nAuthorised Maximum\n9 For printing and providing official poll cards.\nAuthorised Maximum\n10 For printing and providing notices and other documents required in and about the election or poll and costs of publishing the same.\nAuthorised Maximum\n11 For the renting of any building or room for the purpose of the election and for expenses of heating, lighting and cleaning any building or room for such purpose.\nAuthorised Maximum\n12 For adapting and fitting up any building or room for the purpose of the election (including the provision of voting compartments and any necessary furniture) and restoring it to fit condition for its normal use.\nAuthorised Maximum\n13 For providing ballot boxes, including any repairs.\nAuthorised Maximum\n14 For the conveyance of ballot boxes and ballot papers in those cases where the cost of transport is not included in the travelling expenses of presiding officers and poll clerks under paragraph I.6 of this Part of the Schedule.\nAuthorised Maximum\n15 For every stamping instrument required to be purchased, hired, altered or repaired.\nAuthorised Maximum\n16 For copies of the electoral register.\nAuthorised Maximum\n17 For general stationery, postage, telephone calls, bank charges and miscellaneous expenses.\nAuthorised Maximum\nII. In an uncontested election, for all necessary preliminary work the amount shall be the same as the amount specified for corresponding work in a contested election, except that for all clerical and other assistance employed by the returning officer, deputy returning officer, acting returning officer or deputy acting returning officer for the purposes of the election, including charges for day subsistence expenses and for superannuation contributions where payable, the amount shall not be more than one-quarter of the amount specified under paragraph I.4 of this Part of the Schedule.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1990/691/schedule",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:22:55.012084+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}