To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the audited accounts and Annual Report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available; and what subject matter they will cover. [9995]

Copies of the Foundation's Annual Report for 1996–97 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The Foundation received £2.5 million from this Department for its activities in 1996–97. With this grant it supported 278 projects in 58 countries. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Anglophone Africa, and also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world. It makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Projects have included work with political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trades unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.