Mark Lazarowicz: Edinburgh North & Leith

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	Government pays towards costs of the G8 summit
	Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh, North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op): Like my right hon. Friend, I welcome the conference and the benefits that it will bring to Scotland. Undoubtedly, though, the short-term benefits are a little more mixed, to put it mildly. Given the undoubted extra policing and security costs that will fall on local authorities and police authorities in Edinburgh and elsewhere, will the Secretary of State confirm the details of the financial assistance given by the Treasury to the Scottish Executive? Does he agree that it is important for some of that assistance to be passed on to the local and police authorities to help meet the extra costs of policing and the security measures? Alistair Darling (Secretary of State for Scotland): There have been extensive discussions between the Government and the Scottish Executive. My hon. Friend is right that the Government have made available to the Scottish Executive £20 million as a contribution towards the policing costs of the G8 summit. It is worth remarking that, on Saturday, more than 225,000 people walked through the streets of Edinburgh with virtually no trouble whatever. That sent a very powerful message to the whole world that people from all parts of the UK and beyond want to see action at this week's G8. It is regrettable that yesterday and to some extent today a handful of people have been more concerned about themselves than about the big cause itself. I hope that most people will concentrate on Saturday's success, for which a lot of credit goes to the police and all the organisers. I hope that people will also regard yesterday's events for what they are—a needless distraction.

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	5th July 2005, Cols 152-3