Written Question · S5W-26301 · Session 5
What information it has regarding how much it cost to organise and run in Scotland the (a) (i) 2011 and (ii) 2016 Scottish Parliament elect…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much it cost to organise and run in Scotland the (a) (i) 2011 and (ii) 2016 Scottish Parliament election, (b) (i) 2010, (ii) 2015 and (iii) 2017 general election, (c) (i) 2012 and (ii) 2017 local government election, (d) (i) 2014 and (ii) 2019 European Parliament election and (e) (i) 2011 alternative vote, (ii) 2014 Scottish independence and (iii) 2016 EU membership referendum.
The answer
(a) Scottish Parliament Elections
(i) We do not hold information on the costs associated with the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. Scottish parliamentary election expenses claims for this poll were dealt with by the Scotland Office.
(ii) Following the transfer of powers, the Scottish Government met the costs of the Scottish Parliament election held on 5 May 2016 across the 32 council areas, totalling £17,544,245.
(b) UK Parliament General Elections
(i) We do not hold information on the costs associated with the 2010 General Election. UK parliamentary election expenses claims for this poll were dealt with by the Scotland Office and the then Elections Claims Unit at the Department for Communities and Local Government (now Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government).
(ii) The relevant cost for the 2015 General Election can be found in the following report published by the UK Government:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/715422/The_Costs_of_the_2015_UK_Parliamentary_General_Election.pdf
(iii) The cost of the 2017 General Election for Scotland is due for future publication and the information requested will be published by the Cabinet Office in due course.
(c) Local Government Elections
The costs of administering council elections, with the exception of the electronic counting project, are covered by each local authority from their own budgets. This information is not collated centrally.
(i) The Scottish Government’s total expenditure on the electronic vote counting project at the 2012 local government election was £5,600,000, of which £3,693,759 was paid to local authorities as reimbursement for core e-counting costs.
(ii) The Scottish Government’s total expenditure on the electronic vote counting project at the 2017 local government election was £5,887,008, of which £3,247,714 was paid to local authorities as reimbursement for core e-counting costs.
(d) European Parliament Elections
(i) The relevant cost for the 2014 European Parliament can be found in the following report published by the UK Government:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573723/costs_of_the_2014_european_parliamentary_elections.pdf
(ii) The cost of the 2019 European Parliament is due for future publication and the information requested will be published by the Cabinet Office in due course.
(e) (i) 2011 Alternative Vote Referendum
The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the payment of fees to Counting Officers for running the referendum, and the reimbursement of the costs they incurred in doing so. The relevant cost of administering the AV referendum can be found in the following report published by the Electoral Commission:
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180801140903/https:/www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/153000/Costs-of-UK-May-2011-UKPVS-referendum.pdf
(ii) 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27304 on 04 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
(iii) 2016 Brexit Referendum
The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the payment of fees to Counting Officers for running the referendum, and the reimbursement of the costs they incurred in doing so. The relevant cost of administering the Brexit referendum can be found in the following report published by the Electoral Commission:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/report-costs-delivering-june-2016-referendum-uks-membership-european-union .
(i) We do not hold information on the costs associated with the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. Scottish parliamentary election expenses claims for this poll were dealt with by the Scotland Office.
(ii) Following the transfer of powers, the Scottish Government met the costs of the Scottish Parliament election held on 5 May 2016 across the 32 council areas, totalling £17,544,245.
(b) UK Parliament General Elections
(i) We do not hold information on the costs associated with the 2010 General Election. UK parliamentary election expenses claims for this poll were dealt with by the Scotland Office and the then Elections Claims Unit at the Department for Communities and Local Government (now Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government).
(ii) The relevant cost for the 2015 General Election can be found in the following report published by the UK Government:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/715422/The_Costs_of_the_2015_UK_Parliamentary_General_Election.pdf
(iii) The cost of the 2017 General Election for Scotland is due for future publication and the information requested will be published by the Cabinet Office in due course.
(c) Local Government Elections
The costs of administering council elections, with the exception of the electronic counting project, are covered by each local authority from their own budgets. This information is not collated centrally.
(i) The Scottish Government’s total expenditure on the electronic vote counting project at the 2012 local government election was £5,600,000, of which £3,693,759 was paid to local authorities as reimbursement for core e-counting costs.
(ii) The Scottish Government’s total expenditure on the electronic vote counting project at the 2017 local government election was £5,887,008, of which £3,247,714 was paid to local authorities as reimbursement for core e-counting costs.
(d) European Parliament Elections
(i) The relevant cost for the 2014 European Parliament can be found in the following report published by the UK Government:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/573723/costs_of_the_2014_european_parliamentary_elections.pdf
(ii) The cost of the 2019 European Parliament is due for future publication and the information requested will be published by the Cabinet Office in due course.
(e) (i) 2011 Alternative Vote Referendum
The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the payment of fees to Counting Officers for running the referendum, and the reimbursement of the costs they incurred in doing so. The relevant cost of administering the AV referendum can be found in the following report published by the Electoral Commission:
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180801140903/https:/www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/153000/Costs-of-UK-May-2011-UKPVS-referendum.pdf
(ii) 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27304 on 04 September 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .
(iii) 2016 Brexit Referendum
The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the payment of fees to Counting Officers for running the referendum, and the reimbursement of the costs they incurred in doing so. The relevant cost of administering the Brexit referendum can be found in the following report published by the Electoral Commission:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/report-costs-delivering-june-2016-referendum-uks-membership-european-union .
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-26301 by reference.