§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds are available from the European Commission to(a) the United Kingdom Government and (b) other organisations within the United Kingdom for information projects on (i) the EU and (ii) the euro; and if he will make a statement. [26521]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonIn the 1998 EC budget a total of 79.35 million ecu (£52.96 million at current exchange rates) is available for different types of information activity within the EU (budget lines B3–300, B3–301, B3–304 and B3–306). These budget lines are not broken down by Member State. It is therefore not possible to give an overall figure for the funds available for information projects in the UK.
We believe that people have a right to accurate and easily accessible information about the EU's policies and activities. The Community budget has a legitimate role in the provision of such information.