Referendum work
Published 29 July 2010
© Crown copyright 2010
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/referendum-project-board-minutes-and-terms-of-reference/referendum-work
We were asked for the following information in connection with the referendum on further powers:
- the make up of the project board, its terms of reference and the public access to the minutes of its proceedings
- the estimated cost to the public purse of the preparation for and the holding of the proposed referendum including the cost of the time of public officials involved in those matters
The Wales Office holds information falling within the terms of the request. We are disclosing some of that information, but withholding other information which is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.
The disclosed Information is shown below.
1. Make up of the project board and its terms of reference
The Wales Office Project Board on referendum preparatory work is made up of representatives from the Wales Office, Welsh Assembly Government, the Electoral Commission, the Cabinet Office (formerly Ministry of Justice officials), the Assembly Commission and the Welsh Language Board.
The Project Board’s terms of reference are published on the Wales Office’s pages under the FOI Disclosure Log entry dated 23 June titled ‘Referendum on further powers’.
Cost of the preparation for and the holding of the proposed referendum including the cost of the time of public officials involved in those matters.
The latest estimate of costs for the holding of the referendum is £8.2 million made up of:
- costs related to the running of the referendum at a local level by counting officers;costs relating to the postal cost of providing a free mailout of one postal communication to voters or households, for both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns
- costs incurred by the Electoral Commission in carrying out its statutory duties regarding the referendum
Costs relating to the first 2 items above are still subject to consultation and therefore the overall cost estimate may be subject to change. Final costs will be dependent on expenditure actually incurred.
We do not hold information about the cost of the time of all public officials involved in referendum preparations work. Two Wales Office members of staff are engaged full time on referendum preparations. Other Wales Office members of staff, including legal advisors, are engaged on referendum preparations work alongside other work. These staff costs have been accommodated within the existing staff budget for the Wales Office.
2. Wales Office project board: Referendum preparatory work
9/06/2010 Agenda
1) Introductions 2) Note of last meeting [to be tabled at meeting] 3) Referendum question 4) Any other business