§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost to public funds so far of Her Majesty's Government participation in the(a) Financial Action Task Force and (b) Financial Stability Forum. [126755]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonI have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty's Government have, since 1997, paid £75,429.87 in subscription towards the UK's membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The subscription for 2000 is approximately £25,000. Information for previous years is not readily available. FATF meetings are attended by officials from HM Treasury, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, HM Customs and Excise and the Financial Services Authority. Details of costs incurred from travel and accommodation resulting from participating at FATF meetings could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Costs incurred by Her Majesty's Government to date in participating in the Financial Stability Forum, consisting of travel costs, accommodation costs, and subsistence are £23,677.59. These costs were incurred in attending the three meetings of the Financial Stability Forum, and also through HM Treasury's participation in the Financial Stability Forum's working group on Offshore Centres.