§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the minutes of all meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality at which the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. were discussed. [112682]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNo. Disclosure of minutes of meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality is a matter for the Commission.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the involvement of the Home Office Race Equality Unit in the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the relationship between the Unit and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112716]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe head of the unit attended on my behalf at two meetings of the International Steering Committee of the Congress. The Unit provided names of possible speakers and suggested topics for workshops.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the persons who wrote messages of support in the Global Cultural Diversity Congress registration brochure published by the Commission for Racial Equality, indicating in each case when they were first informed that the Global Cultural Diversity Congress had been cancelled, and by whom. [112726]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThese are matters for the company and the Commission for Racial Equality.
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§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenses the Commission for Racial Equality has paid to(a) Commissioners or (b) members of the Commission's staff in respect of their functions as Directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.; and if he will make a statement. [112725]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThis information is not available to me.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the actions of Mr. Hugh Harris as acting Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality at the Commission's meeting on 7 February in respect of business related to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112715]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNo. I will need to consider the report of Gurbux Singh before doing so.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when(a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department learned that a request for additional funding from Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. would be discussed at the Commission for Racial Equality's meeting on 7 February; and if he will make a statement. [112712]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe dates are 4 February, 3 February and 1 February respectively.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (i) funding and (ii) promises of funding under whose authorisation and on what terms(a) his Department and (b) the Commission for Racial Equality have given to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; when his Department promised funding; and if he will make a statement. [112737]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI approved, in September 1999, Home Office funding of £10,000 for a "think-tank" and up to £40,000 for a research report on the costs of racial discrimination to be used at the Congress. The other matters will be addressed in the review which my right hon. Friend has asked Gurbux Singh to conduct.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who is ultimately liable for the debts of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [112740]
(2) what are the total (a) assets and (b) liabilities of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement; [112681]
(3) if he will refer the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd to the Department of Trade and Industry for investigation; [112722]
(4) what was the total level of sponsorship and donations given to Global Cultural Diversity Congress by (a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) community organisations; what was the level provided by each organisation; on what terms that money was provided; what arrangements have been made for the money to be repaid; and if he will make a statement; [112708]
(5) which foreign Governments gave money towards the costs of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress; what was the amount provided by each Government; on what 380W terms that money was given; what arrangements have been made for it to be repaid; and if he will make a statement. [112709]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThat is a matter for the liquidator.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if at meetings of the Commission for Racial Equality, Commissioners who were at the same time directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. voted on business related to Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112714]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe decision-making process will be examined by Gurbux Singh in the review he is to undertake.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when members of the International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress were informed that the Congress had been cancelled, and by whom; and if he will make a statement. [112679]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe decision to cancel the Congress and to notify interested parties was primarily a matter for Global Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action he plans to take against officials of(a) his Department and (b) the Commission for Racial Equality in respect of the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [112721]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThis must await the outcome of the review.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) foreign dignitaries who had confirmed that they would attend the Global Cultural Diversity Congress as speakers, members of panels or hosts of sessions, indicating in each case (i) when they confirmed they would attend, and (ii) when they were first made aware that the Global Cultural Diversity Congress had been cancelled, and by whom. [112724]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNo. Organisational issues relating to the event and its cancellation were the responsibility of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. We are unaware of all of those who were expected to take part in this way at the moment.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if(a) he (b) Ministers in his Department or (c) officials in his Department authorised the donation of money from his Department to fund the Global Cultural Diversity Congress; and if he will make a statement. [112742]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI approved, in September 1999, Home Office sponsorship of £10,000 for a "think-tank" and up to £40,000 for a research report on the costs of racial discrimination which was intended to be used at the Congress. The results of this report are valid in any event and will be publicised.
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§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the involvement of the hon. Member for Warwickshire North, with the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112741]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI was invited to join the International Steering Committee that held its launch on 8 February 1999 at the South African Embassy but did not personally attend any subsequent meetings. I spoke at the launch of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress at the Foreign Office on 8 February. I hosted an event at the Home Office on 10 May 1999 for representatives of business and the voluntary sector to raise awareness of the Congress.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions representatives of(a) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. And (b) the Commission for Racial Equality had with Ministers in his Department or his officials about the request for additional funding for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress which was discussed at the Commission's meeting on 7 February prior to the meeting taking place. [112677]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienDiscussions between officials and representatives of Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the Commission for Racial Equality about funding took place during the three weeks prior to the Commissioners meeting on 7 February. Ministers were not involved in these discussions.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from(a) commercial, (b) charitable and (c) community organisations and from (d) foreign Governments regarding the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and the collapse of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112723]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienNone.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates since 1 January(a) he, (b) ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department met representatives from the (i) International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress, (ii) Commission for Racial Equality and (iii) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; if (1) the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and (2) Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd were discussed; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of such meetings. [112718]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I met representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality to discuss the Congress and the company on 21 and 22 February. Officials had meetings with representatives of the International Strategic Steering Committee or the Commission or Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 limited on 13 January, 27 January, 1 February, 3 February, 7 February and 15 February.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the involvement of Sir Herman Ouseley as Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality with the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112717]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe role of the Commission will be examined as part of the review I have asked Gurbux Singh to undertake.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the appointments on public bodies held by(a) members of the Commission for Racial Equality and (b) directors of Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112711]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe information requested is not readily available. My officials will have to make inquiries and I will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the Global Cultural Diversity Congress and Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [112678]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary advised the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly of the decision that it would not be justifiable to use substantial public funds to support the event on 21 February.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the involvement of the International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress with Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd. [112680]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe International Strategic Steering Committee of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress was established to advise on issues for discussion, possible speakers and representation at the event and to ensure a global perspective for the Congress. The organisation of the conference was for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress 2000 Ltd.