HL Deb 22 October 1997 vol 582 cc211-2WA
Lord Campbell of Croy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total expenditure from public sources on preparing, printing and distributing to households in Scotland the summary of the White Paper Scotland's Parliament and on associated television programmes, videos and helplines before the referendum on 11 September.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)

The final accounts have yet to be finalised. The total estimated expenditure on government information is around £730,000. This includes: the reminder to vote and absent voters campaigns (the latter of which included a helpline); the production and distribution to all households of an information leaflet (including Gaelic and ethnic language versions and Braille and audio taped versions); and production and distribution of the video. The information campaign was carried out in accordance with published Cabinet Office guidelines on government publicity.

Lord Campbell of Croy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What financial or other assistance was made available from public sources to the "No" campaign in Scotland before the referendum on 11 September, comparable to that provided to the "No" campaign in the referendum on the EEC in 1975.

Lord Sewel

The Government took the view, and Parliament agreed, that public funds should not be used to finance campaigning organisations in the referendum. The campaigning bodies were independent of government and it was felt not to be appropriate to use public funds for their activities. This approach was the same as that adopted in respect of the previous devolution referendum in 1979.