Launching the Scottish Government’s white paper on independence at a private venue cost the public purse £12,432, Nicola Sturgeon has revealed.
The deputy first minister said the figure covered hiring out Glasgow Science Centre on November 26, set-up costs and transport.
Ms Sturgeon said there were no additional costs for publicity in relation to the event – which opposition MSPs said should have been held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh at a time when public finances are stretched.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown said: “Alex Salmond thought it was more appropriate to spend thousands of pounds of public money on a glitzy launch.
“The Scottish Government has a duty and needs to explain why this lavish expenditure was necessary and give a breakdown of the actual costs involved.”
Speaking at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said: “The cost of the public information campaign was £450,000 and I will keep parliament updated with the total cost of the white paper.
“We are still getting very high demand for copies.”
Finance Secretary John Swinney has said the total cost of the independence referendum would be about £13.7million, with £800,000 of that being spent this year and the rest in 2014-15.
Defending the decision to launch the white paper at the Glasgow Science Centre, a government spokeswoman said the document was first and foremost for the people of Scotland.
The government has said the head of the UK civil service confirmed civil servants can support SNP ministers in setting out their policy.
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “Surely the public have an equal right to know how the Scottish Government is spending their money, but the Scottish Government either don’t know or won’t say. It’s time for ministers to spell out what money they’re spending on glossy publications, postcards, billboards and radio and TV ads.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen City Council has agreed to invite Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael to provide a written response to the 670-page white paper.
A motion backed by Labour, the Independent Alliance group and the Conservatives stated there was nothing in the document to justify breaking up the UK.