How much will it cost and how can this spending be justified?

Our current estimate is that the Summit will cost around ￡19m. This includes the venue, and event security / policing.

Costs will be found from within existing departmental and police budgets. Proper procurement processes have been followed to ensure value for money.

The London Summit is an investment in bringing world leaders together to co-ordinate global action to restore stability, growth and jobs. If action agreed at the Summit adds just 0.1% to economic growth, this would be worth over ￡1 billion to the UK this year alone, and over $50 billion globally.

The London Summit costs also compare favourably with the costs of hosting similar events in the past. To take examples from outside the UK, the 2008 G8 Summit in Japan cost an estimated US$285 million, and security for Germany's Heilegendamm Summit cost €92m.

Visiting delegations will organise and pay for their own accommodation. Accommodation for UK officials, event organisers and the police is included in the total cost of the summit. Costs will be found from within existing departmental and police budgets.

How does the London Summit affect me?

The financial crisis is a global crisis.

It affects governments, banks, financial institutions, businesses, homeowners, employees and families.

London Summit website offers an outline of:

the origins of the crisis

how the global community might rebuild the financial framework, and

how, in turn, you will be affected.

What about developing countries?

Many emerging market developing countries, with considerable numbers of poor people, are already suffering from the consequences of the financial crisis. Tighter global finance will restrict private investments and trade credits. The global downturn will see lower export demand, commodity prices and remittance flows for poor countries, and is threatening social sector provisions and social stability.

The actions to stabilise the financial system and build the foundations for sustaining and strengthening global growth are essential in order to secure our development objectives.

The multilateral development banks (MDBs) need to take immediate action tohelp countries cope with the impacts of the crisis on the poorest people.

World leaders need to agree the principles for governance reform of the international financial institutions (IFIs) to make them more effective and legitimate.