§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish(a) his estimate of expenditure on security and police expenditure in connection with the European summit to be held in Edinburgh on 10 to 12 December and (b) the eventual total expenditure; if he will reconsider his decision not to provide additional funding for Lothian and Borders police board to cover this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 17 December 1992]: Lothian and Borders police estimate 640W that the cost of providing security and policing for the European summit will be £2.5 million. Total expenditure will not be known until around February 1993.
The Government will contribute to the costs of policing the summit through police specific grant. This is the usual arrangement and my right hon. Friend has no plans to review the financing of the policing of such major events. The rate of specific grant is 51 per cent., except in London where it is 52 per cent.