§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount paid or payable to each returning officer in Scotland at the 1995 local elections; what out-of-pocket expenses had to be met from these payments; what was the level of payment to each other grade involved in these elections; and if he will make a statement. [24108]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis information is not collected centrally. Returning officers' fees and expenses and other costs relating to the conduct of local government elections are met by the local authority. A total of £5 million was, however, made available482W exceptionally by the Scottish Office to regional councils to cover the cost of the elections to the shadow councils in April.