To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the likely cost to the public purse of a referendum on the alternative vote system for general elections.

The Electoral Commission informs me that the Cabinet Office is currently developing cost estimates for the running of a national referendum.

The Commission further informs me that the estimated cost of its own activities would be approximately £9.3 million. This includes the costs of its activities in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and of making grants of public money, up to a maximum of £600,000 each, available to the designated organisations appointed as lead campaigners for each of the referendum outcomes.