A CITIZENS’ Assembly to debate Scotland’s future will cost almost £1.4 million, the Scottish Government has revealed.
Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell (pictured) detailed the financial cost of holding a Citizens’ Assembly in response to a written question from fellow SNP MSP Angela Constance.
READ MORE: Scotland's Citizens’ Assembly ‘must reflect society’, Russell says
It plans to gather approximately 120 “broadly representative” people from across Scotland to discuss issues such as Brexit and independence.
Russell confirmed the Scottish Government would be giving £1.37m to fund the six meetings, the first of which will take place in Edinburgh this weekend.
READ MORE: Citizens’ assemblies are great ... but don’t expect miracles
The money, Russell explained, will be spent giving £200 “gifts of thanks to members” and providing expenses to support people attending the discussions, with support for childcare and caring responsibilities.
Participants, selected in a similar manner to jury members, will also receive up to £1200 to attend six residential weekend assemblies that are due to be held from Saturday until April 2020.
Explaining the cost, Russell said: “The total budget is almost identical to the cost of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly, which proved to be a model for many others worldwide.”
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