§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for future assistance to the Commonwealth Institute. [13913]
§ Mr. RifkindI value the work of the Commonwealth Institute and recognise the efforts it has made to modernise its operations, increase revenue and seek private sector investment. I am therefore pleased to confirm that we have decided to give the institute a grant in aid of £800,000 for the financial year 1997–98; and £600,000 for the year 1998–99. The question of funding beyond 1999 will be subject to normal public expenditure constraints and procedures. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to support the institute's attempts to obtain further private sector investment.
Community initiative 1994–99 Number of applications received since 1994 Number of applications approved Number of applications rejected Number of applications still under consideration Retex II 201 86 57 58 SME 437 63 67 307 Rechar II 1,509 575 557 377 Resider II 235 89 103 43 Total 2,382 813 784 785
The allocations to the UK for each of the four Initiatives are: £ million (i) Retex II 26.71 (ii) SME 49.14 (iii) Rechar II 119.16 (iv) Resider II 33.18