§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money, and what assistance in kind, his Department is giving to support the Conference on the proposed EU Constitution organised by the Federal Trust and scheduled to take place on 1 and 2 July 2004; and how much money his Department(a) has committed and (b) plans to commit to support events which are favourably disposed towards UK accession to a treaty creating an EU constitution. [169390]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office will provide a speaker and £2,000 to fund the associated lunch for the conference to take place on 1 and 2 July organised by the Federal Trust for Education and Research and the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES). This is an academic event co-organised by the main coordinating body of academics interested in Europe (UACES), and seeks to debate rather than 'promote' the draft EU Constitutional Treaty. Agreement has not yet been reached on the EU Constitutional Treaty and decisions on funding of related events will be taken in due course.
§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way the proposed European constitution takes into consideration cultural and religious diversity. [171308]
§ Mr. MacShaneArticle 1.3.3 of the draft EU Constitution states that, as one of its objectives, "the Union shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity and shall ensure that Europe's cultural heritage is safeguarded and enhanced". Article 1.51 makes it clear that while religion remains a matter for individual Member States, the Union equally respects the status of all religious and secular organisations.