THE cost of the police and security operation surrounding next month’s G8 summit will almost certainly never be known following a decision by the Scottish Executive.

It has used a section of the Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) to impose a ban on the release of all security-related information on the summit, including financial details.

Ministers at Holyrood have for the first time signed a “prospective ministerial certificate” setting out categories of information that are exempt under the Act and which must not be released. The certificate is open-ended, meaning that details of how much the police and security operation at Gleneagles cost may not even be released under the 30-year rule.

Opposition parties pointed out yesterday that it was not clear how an indication of the global costs of security and policing for the G8 could in any way jeopardise security.

The certificate covers the police, local authorities, health boards and government agencies and departments.

Last month The Times reported that the cost of hosting the summit was spiralling towards £100 million, making it by far the biggest such operation on British soil. Basic policing costs at the three-day summit could reach £50 million, with a further £9 million to be spent on travel, catering and accommodation. An undisclosed sum, thought to be tens of millions of pounds, has been set aside for additional security arrangements and contingency plans.

The SNP accused Jack Mc-Connell, the First Minister, of going “over the top” with the blanket ban on financial information. The Scottish Tories and the Greens pointed out that if there was post-summit controversy over the police and security operation or any form of public inquiry was needed into an incident, the certificate could be used to withhold crucial evidence from any such inquiry.

An Executive spokesman insisted that the exemption was intended to prevent a breach of national security. “We think it is more open and transparent to be upfront, rather than pulling this out of our back pocket at the last minute,” he said.

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