§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of(a) the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, (b) the British Council and (c) British Trade International for each year from 1996–97 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [156610]
§ Mr. RammellThe cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is shown in the following table:
£million (a) Westminster
Foundation for
Democracy1
(b) British Council2
(c) UK Trade and
Investment3
Outturn 1996–97 2.5 102.4 — 1997–98 2.7 96.2 — 1998–99 3.0 97.1 — 1999–2000 4.0 133.3 — 2000–01 4.2 137.7 155.8 2001–02 4.3 145.0 136.3 2002–03 4.2 151.5 141.2 Budget 2003–04 4.1 165.5 141.2 Plan 2004–05 4.1 169.6 142.2 2005–06 n/a 179.6 144.2 1 A full review of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) will take place in summer 2004. his will determine the
level of grant-in-aid WFD will receive in 1.005-06 and beyond.
2 From 1999–2000 the FCO assumed responsibility for DFID's share of grant-in-aid to the British Council. A machinery of
government transfer from DFID to the FC 0 covered this increase
in expenditure.
3British Trade International (BTI) (now UK Trade and Investment) was established in May 1999. 2000–01 is the first full
year for which we have a separate figure for BTI.
Note: The figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 indicate current spending plans. All future resource allocations may be subject to review in
the light of changing foreign policy prior ties. 2005–06 spending
plans will be covered by the 2004 Spending Review.