Campbell queries papal visit costs

EAST Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell questioned Foreign Secretary William Hague on the cost of Pope Benedict's forthcoming visit to the UK.

He was advised the cost of the Papal visit will be part funded by the Catholic Church and part funded by the Government.

The Londonderry DUP MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of the forthcoming visit to the UK by Pope Benedict.

Answering on Mr Hague's behalf Junior minister Henry Bellingham replied: "Pope Benedict XVI will visit the UK not only as the leader of the Catholic Church but as a Head of State, and at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen. Part of the costs of the visit will therefore fall to the Government.

"The total costs can be divided into two categories: policing costs, which will be met by the state from existing policing budgets, and non-policing costs, which will be split between the Catholic Church and the Government.

"Discussions are under way to finalise these costs and to agree the appropriate levels of contribution from the Government and the Catholic Bishops' Conferences of England and Wales, and of Scotland."