§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 16 November (WA 135):
- (a) whether they intend to spend more money on their Guide to the European Union;
- (b) at which events and venues, and in particular to which educational establishments, they will be distributing the guide; and
- (c) whether, in pursuit of their declared intention to encourage national debate about the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, they will send a publication to the same recipients about the disadvantages of that membership. [HL30]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently assessing demand for theGuide to the EU, before deciding on future expenditure.
The EU Guide will be distributed at a range of events over the coming months, including seminars and conferences arranged by interested organisations, as well as during my honourable friend the Europe Minister's programme of visits around the UK. The Department for Education and Skills has advertised the availability of the EU Guide through Teachernet resources (www.teachernet.gov.uk) and in a monthly newsletter which goes out from the department. This means that all head teachers will be made aware of the publication and can order copies if they want.
The EU Guide is a factual account of the costs and obligations, as well as the benefits of EU membership. Therefore, we will not be sending a separate publication to the same recipients dealing exclusively with "the disadvantages of that membership", as the noble Lord suggests.