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Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 September 2004,Official Report, column 1548W, how the money is to be spent. [190232]Mr. Rammell: [holding answer of 11 October 2004] : The Department for International Development's (DFID) PoliticalParticipation Fund for Iraq; administered by the British Council is a £5 million programme over two years, designed toincrease opportunities for political representation and participation by all Iraqi citizens, particularly women. Since earlySeptember. £145,000 has been allocated to provide support to Iraqi national women's organisations. This will help them to preparefor the elections by delivering civic education and information to women voters, working with potential candidates and monitoringwomen's participation in the political process. DFID and the British Council, responsible for managing the Fund, are looking atfurther opportunities to support women's participation in the political process, both before and after the forthcoming elections. |