§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Office on referenda since its creation. [137512]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has incurred no expenditure on holding referendums.
The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 provides for the forthcoming regional assembly referendums. Expenditure for these will be incurred by the Electoral Commission, who will request resources from the Speakers Committee to cover its referendum costs. Costs incurred by local authorities in running the referendums will be met from the consolidated fund. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will bear the associated costs of the information campaign and the work of the Boundary Committee.
The former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions incurred expenditure of £1 million on the referendum held in London in 1998 on whether to establish the Greater London Authority.