Written question asked by Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 29 June 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 July 2011. It was answered by Gary Streeter (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 July 2011 on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

Alternative Vote: Referendums

Question: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of holding the referendum on the alternative vote in Northern Ireland.

Answer: The Electoral Commission informs me that the Northern Ireland Office identified that a budget of £2.5 million was likely to be required by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland to conduct the referendum on the parliamentary voting system. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland will submit a claim to the Electoral Commission for its actual costs by 5 January 2012.In addition to the expenditure by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, public awareness expenditure by the Electoral Commission on Northern Ireland specific campaigns was £200,000.

Secondary information