To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) budget of the People's Europe Project. [37072]

The aim of the People's Europe 98 conference is to promote and widen public debate on the challenges facing Europe; in this way to help make the EU more open and closer to the citizen; and to provide a means to promote the views of civic society within the European Union. The budget for the project is the responsibility of the organisers. My Department is providing £70,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what European Communities funding will be available to support the People's Europe Project. [37096]

The European Commission intends to provide about £70,000 from the EC budget toward the cost of the People's Europe 1998 conference. The European Parliament is likely to make a further, smaller contribution. It is possible that EC funds may be available to Non-Governmental Organisations that are contributing to the conference.