To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the final allocation in 1997–98 for expenditure on publicity in respect of the referendum on a Scottish Parliament. [12162]

In 1997–98, £700,000 will made available through voted provision to meet the cost of publicity and other miscellaneous expenditure associated with the referendum on a Scottish Parliament. The provision will be made available through the miscellaneous category in the Scottish Office Home Department vote.Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure will be sought in a 1997–98 winter supplementary estimate for the law, order and protective services, police grant and social work services, Scotland vote—class XIII, vote 5. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund.