HC Deb 06 March 1975 vol 887 cc462-3W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Lord President of the Council what he estimates will be the cost of conducting a referendum on United Kingdom membership of the EEC as contained in Command Paper No. 5925.

Mr. Edward Short

I estimate at this stage that the cost to public funds will be between £5 million and £8 million.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Lord President of the Council what information he has as to the cost of conducting a referendum in Norway on a similar issue in 1972.

Mr. Edward Short

I have only the information on the cost of the campaign given in Annex B to the White Paper (Command 5925).

Mr. Skeet

asked the Lord President of the Council what information he has, and what inquiries he has made, about the cost of conducting referenda in the several countries mentioned in Appendix B of Command Paper No. 5925 for which figures have not been given.

Mr. Edward Short

In preparing the White Paper (Command 5925) inquiries were concerned only with the cost to Governments of referendum publicity and information campaigns. Annex B to the White Paper contains the information that was readily available.