Spending that is reasonably attributable to an individual’s disability does not count towards the spending limit but you must report it on your spending return.1
This is reported in two different ways, depending on who makes the payments.
Spending relating to the candidate’s disability
As they are a type of personal expenses, spending related to the candidate’s disability may be paid by the candidate.
A candidate can make payments for any amount of these expenses, so they do not count towards the payment limits for personal expenses.2
If the candidate makes the payments, then for constituency, independent regional and dual candidates, you must report them in the disability-related expenses section of your spending return.
As they are a type of personal expenses, the deadlines for reporting to the agent or Regional Returning Officer apply. These are explained in the previous section.
If the agent pays any disability-related expenses, they must be reported in the section called ‘Further reported spending’ – see next section.
Access for Elected Office Fund Scotland
Candidates with disabilities are able to apply for funding to cover additional costs that disabled people face when standing as a candidate.
Spending that is reasonably attributable to the disability of someone other than the candidate is not personal expenses, and so must be paid by or through the agent as usual.3
They do not count towards the spending limit but you must report them on your spending return.4
For example
upgraded software for a disabled volunteer to use in managing your online campaign
a wheelchair access ramp for a campaign event attended by a voter in a wheelchair
If the agent pays any disability expenses, they must be reported in the section called ‘Further reported spending’ – see next section for more details.
1. Articles 42(6)(b), 43(8)(b), 47, 58 and 59, Scottish Parliamentary Elections Order 2015 (SPEO 2015)↩ Back to content at footnote 1