§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the total cost to(a) Edinburgh district council, (b) Lothian regional council and (c) the Scottish Office of the staging of the Edinburgh summit of the European Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992]: The main costs of organising the European Council and associated media facilities—estimated at £6.4 million—will be met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The policing costs—estimated by Lothian and Borders police at £2.5 million—will be met in the usual way: 51 per cent. by central Government, in this case the Scottish Office through police specific grant; and 49 per cent. by the relevant local authority, in this case Lothian regional council. In addition, a number of organisations, including the Scottish Office, have staged events or offered hospitality to mark the holding of the European Council in Edinburgh. The cost to the Scottish Office of the eve-of-Council concert, associated hospitality and media activity is estimated at £150,000. The cost of other events, including those for which Edinburgh district council and Lothian regional council were responsible, is a matter for the organisations concerned.