HC Deb 05 July 1994 vol 246 cc118-9W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 525–26, if he will list those practical initiatives in Nigeria which his Department is funding in support of a democratic transition in that country; if he will indicate the amount of funding for each project; and if he will make a statement indicating specifically what steps his Department intends to take to assist the work of the National Constitutional Conference in Nigeria.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Since April 1993, we have provided office equipment and literature to organisations concerned with democracy and human rights—£40,000—help towards the running of and participation in human rights conferences—£12,000—and support for monitoring of the June 1993 election—£10,000. Further initiatives totalling up to £75,000 in 1994–95 are being considered. In addition, we have helped the work of the National Constitutional Conference by providing its library with books and journals on legal, political and constitutional issues, including copies of the democratic constitutions of several Commonwealth countries—£5,500.