Clause 9 - Expenditure
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
4:45 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
Clause 9 is fairly uncontroversial, although I always say that with trepidation lest I should be contradicted by a colleague who has spotted something that I have not.
I wonder whether the Minister could tell us about the quantum of money that is expected to be involved in running the referendums. We talked on Second Reading about the costs and burdens that will be imposed on any transition in the local government system and the likely costs of buildings for any new regional assemblies, but the referendum is a further cost. No doubt the Government have carefully quantified the cost and conducted the most rigorous cost benefit analysis of the proposed expenditure. I look forward to hearing from the Minister on that.