HC Deb 03 February 2004 vol 417 c839W
Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom and other member states were consulted by the Council of Europe over its decision to produce a hip-hop version of the European anthem; and what the(a) purpose and (b) cost of this production was. [151796]

Mr. MacShane

[holding answer 2 December 2003]According to the Council of Europe, the purpose of this project was to provide music for different European events and ceremonies and as background music for radio and television programmes with a European theme.

United Kingdom Government was not consulted. I have been informed that the cost of producing the CD was €7,000. If I had been consulted, I would have said that it was a waste of money.