# The Scottish Parliament Elections (Returning Officer Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations provide for the total amounts that are recoverable by returning officers for their services and expenses in connection with the conduct of elections for membership of the Scottish Parliament.
Under article 18 of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015 constituency returning officers and regional returning officers are entitled to recover their charges for services rendered, and expenses incurred, provided they were necessarily rendered or incurred for the efficient and effective conduct of the election. The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify maximum amounts which may be recovered under article 18, including specifying total amounts which may be recovered for particular services or expenses. The Scottish Ministers may also make provision to require the submission of accounts.
Regulations 3, 4 and 5 specify for constituency returning officers the maximum total amount that may be recovered for both charges and expenses, the maximum which may be recovered in respect of specified services and the maximum which may be recovered in respect of specified expenses. Different maximum amounts apply in relation to a contested election and an uncontested election.
Regulations 6, 7 and 8 make equivalent for regional returning officers. Again, different maximum amounts apply in relation to a contested election and an uncontested election.
Regulation 9 makes provision for the timescales within which accounts are to be submitted and provides that supporting material, such as receipts, must be provided if the Scottish Ministers request it.
Regulation 10 revokes the Scottish Parliament Elections (Returning Officer Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021 and the Scottish Parliament Elections (Returning Officer Fees and Charges) Amendment Regulations 2021 which previously made similar provision.
In total across Scotland the maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses at a contested elections increases by 12.3% as a result of these Regulations. In total across Scotland the maximum recoverable amount for specified services at a contested elections decreases by 39.3% as a result of these Regulations.
The maximum recoverable amounts for specified expenses and specified services in respect of each local authority area are determined individually. The Policy Note for this instrument provides an explanation of the methodology used.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2025/394/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/scottish-parliament-elections-returning-officer-fees-and-charges-regulations-2025/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.