HC Deb 27 March 1975 vol 889 cc208-9W
Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost incurred by acting returning officers at the last General Election for which the figure can be given.

Mr. Robert Sheldon:

The last General Election for which a figure of total cost is at present available is that held in June 1970. On that occasion the total cost incurred by acting returning officers and reimbursed from the Consolidated Fund was £2,707,000. A further £1,089,000 was borne on the Consolidated Fund for the provision to candidates by the Post Office of certain free postal facilities.