Article 54 Individual candidates: return as to election expensesI1

England and Wales

(1)

Within 35 days after the day on which the result or results of a Senedd election are declared, the election agent of every individual candidate at the election must deliver to the returning officer a true return as respects that candidate containing—

(a)

a statement of all election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the candidate, and

(b)

a statement of all payments made for the purposes of the candidate’s election, together with all bills or receipts relating to the payments.

(2)

A return under this article must—

(a)

specify the poll by virtue of which the return is required,

(b)

specify the names of both the individual candidate to whom the return relates, and the candidate’s election agent, and

(c)

deal, under a separate heading, with any expenses in respect of which a return is required by virtue of article 47(6).

(3)

The return must also contain as respects that candidate—

(a)

a statement relating to any other expenses in connection with which provision is made by this Part as the Electoral Commission provides for in regulations,

(b)

a statement relating to any claims, whether paid, unpaid or disputed, in connection with the election expenses or the other expenses mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) as the Electoral Commission so provide, and

(c)

a statement relating to any other matters that the Electoral Commission may provide for in regulations.

(4)

Until the coming into force of the first regulations made by the Electoral Commission under paragraph (3), the return must also contain as respects that candidate—

(a)

a statement of all payments made—

(i)

by the candidate in accordance with article 45(2) or (3), or

(ii)

by any other person in accordance with article 45(5),

together with all bills or receipts relating to the payments made;

(b)

a statement of all disputed claims of which the election agent is aware;

(c)

a statement of all the unpaid claims, if any, of which the election agent is aware, in respect of which an application has been or is about to be made to the High Court or county court;

(d)

any declarations of value falling to be made by the individual candidate’s election agent by virtue of article 46(2) or 66(3);

(e)

a declaration of the amount of expenses which are to be regarded as election expenses incurred by or on behalf of the individual candidate by virtue of article 65(3);

(f)

a statement of donations made to the individual candidate or the candidate’s election agent which complies with the requirements of paragraphs 11 and 12 of Schedule 6;

(g)

a statement of the amount of money, if any, provided by the individual candidate from the candidate’s own resources for the purpose of meeting election expenses incurred by the candidate or on the candidate’s behalf.

(5)

Paragraph (6) applies where, after the date on which the return as to election expenses is delivered, leave is given by the court under article 51(8) for any claims to be paid.

(6)

The individual candidate or, as the case may be, the candidate’s election agent must, within 7 days after their payment, deliver to the returning officer a return of the sums paid in pursuance of the leave accompanied by a copy of the order of the court giving the leave, and in default the candidate will be deemed to have failed to comply with the requirements of this article without an authorised excuse as is mentioned in article 60.

(7)

Any regulations under paragraph (3) may make different provision for different purposes and may contain any incidental, supplemental, saving or transitional provisions that the Electoral Commission thinks fit.

(8)

The Electoral Commission may, by regulations, prescribe a form of return which may be used for the purposes of making any, or any descriptions of, return required by this article.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 54 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)