§ Lord Shepherdasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Annual Report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [HL3255]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanCopies of the Foundation's Annual Report for 1997–98 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The foundation received £2,713,650 from the FCO, along with £139,099 from other sources, for its activities in 1997–98. With these funds it supported 256 new projects in 47 countries. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa, and also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world. It makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Projects have included work with political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trades unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.