McConnell: Playing down policing costs

Jack McConnell has rejected claims that the total cost of policing the G8 summit at Gleneagles could exceed £100m.

The event is set to be held under unprecedented security and the first minister is facing questions from MSPs in the Holyrood parliament.

The Westminster government has offered £20m to police the event, although opposition parties fear the true cost of security could be five times as much.

The Scottish Executive, rather than local police forces, will fund the additional policing costs.

The SNP's Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon used a session of first minister's questions on Thursday to accuse McConnell of failing to offer a public explanation about the policing costs for July's summit of world leaders.

McConnell rejected claims that the total cost of policing would exceed £100m.

"That cost is not true, and unless circumstances change in an exceptional manner over the course of the next few weeks, the cost of the G8 summit to Scotland will be nowhere near £100m," he said.

"There are basic costs that will obviously be required in ensuring the security round about whatever airports are used.

"Secondly, in ensuring the transport and accommodation of those supporting the delegations and obviously in assessing the cost of police and other security support for the summit itself."