Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost to the public purse for the by-election in the Richmond Park constituency following Zac Goldsmith's resignation.

The total cost to the public purse of a UK parliamentary by-election comprises two main elements: the expenditure incurred by Returning Officers in running the poll; and the cost of delivering election mailings produced by candidates. The Returning Officer for Richmond Park will have six months from the day of the poll to submit his expenses claim, and so the final cost will not be known until this has been received, scrutinised and settled. The actual cost of delivering candidates’ mailings will also not be known until after the election.