Political and Human Rights

HC Deb 09 June 1999 vol 332 cc350-1W

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been given by his Department to develop political and human rights parliamentary discussion groups in Commonwealth countries in each of the last three years. [84746]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

A number of FCO budget lines are used to support the development of pluralist democratic institutions and multi-party political systems. However, as a result of the devolved nature of some of these programmes the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

While part of the FCO's grant-in-aid to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has been used by WFD to fund various cross-party projects, these are generally to facilitate training. WFD do not fund round-table discussion groups or attendance at conferences.