§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects supported by his Department to promote multi-party democracy in South Africa. [34578]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonMany of the activities of our High Commission in South Africa are intended to help create the context in which multi-party democracy can flourish. This has included specific projects such as assistance to the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) and the Helen Suzman Foundation, as well as support for independent journalism. The Department for International Development also promotes multi-party democracy, for example through its programme of Parliamentary visits, and its contribution to workshops for legislators in the region organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy, to which this department contributes financially, has approved the following projects in South Africa in Financial Year 1997–98:
553W
- Conference on the Role of Political Parties
- ANC Follow-up Fundraising Workshop
- Support for Parliamentary Monitoring Office
- Workshop to Build Policy Skills in National, Provincial and Local Government
- Training for Local Government Councillors
- Conservative Party visit to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana
- Support for KwaZulu Natal Monitoring Publication
- Support for IDASA Political Analysis and Monitoring Publication.