§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2000,Official Report, column 376W, on the Global 676W Cultural Diversity Congress, what level of Government funding he understood would be discussed at the Commission for Racial Equality's meeting on 7 February; whether that actual level was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [115991]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe understood that potential costs to public funds in the region of £1 million might be discussed and were very concerned by this. The details of what was actually discussed on 7 February is a matter for the Commission for Racial Equality.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2000,Official Report, column 376W, on the Global Cultural Diversity Congress, what Ministerial policy issues related to the production of the accountants' report into the financial affairs of Global Cultural Congress 2000 Ltd. [115993]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe policy issues related to the appropriateness of injecting public funding into the Global Cultural Diversity Congress.
The report for consultants was an oral report to officials accompanied by a bullet point presentation originally on slides which was relayed to Ministers.
As the hon. Member has requested in a letter, I hope to be able to disclose shortly the substance of the report in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, but I am awaiting advice on how that can be done.
I will place a copy in the Library, when available.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2000,Official Report, column 376W, on the Global Cultural Diversity Congress, from what Government funds he understood that the potential sources of additional funding for the Global Cultural Diversity Congress to be discussed at the Commission for Racial Equality's meeting on 7 February were to be sourced; who gave authorisation for the Government funding to be discussed at the Commission's meeting; when he was informed that additional funding from Government funds would be discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement. [115992]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienMinisters were briefed on a request for Home Office funding of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress on 4 February but did not agree to give any then or later.
The detail of discussion at Commission meetings is a matter for the Commission for Racial Equality.