Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the estimated cost to the public purse was of holding a Cabinet meeting in Aberdeen on 24 February 2014.

The central cost of holding Cabinet in Aberdeen was £1,800. This is a considerable reduction on regional Cabinet meetings under the previous administration, which cost between £50,000 and £100,000. Departments and agencies will also have incurred costs in terms of travel, staff time and other support. The cost of any security provided by the police is a matter for the relevant police force.

Holding Cabinet meetings in different parts of the UK allows Ministers to hear at first hand the views of people in different areas, and Ministers visited various locations in the region following the meeting.