Draft Written Statement to the House of
Commons about the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
On 4 April 2005 my Honourable Friend, the then
Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with
responsibility for human rights (Mr Bill Rammell), announced to
the House the beginning of a consultation exercise on the future
of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD). The consultation
exercise followed a review of the WFD by River Path Associates,
commissioned jointly by the FCO and WFD, and conducted in accordance
with Government guidelines on reviewing Non-Departmental Public
bodies.
Many hon Members from all sides of the House,
through their own commitment to work with and on behalf of the
WFD, were already aware of the contribution that the Foundation
has made since 1992 to promoting democracy and human rights—essential
themes in promoting the UK's national interest in a safe, just
and prosperous world. I am pleased to report that the overwhelming
majority of responses received during the consultation, both from
hon Members of this House and specialists in democracy promotion
in the UK and from overseas, confirmed our view that the WFD continues
to fulfil a uniquely valuable role in promoting democracy through
party-to-party links and through its non-political work in supporting
institutional and parliamentary capacity building. The arms-length
approach brings value-added benefit that could not be achieved
by Government.
In light of these responses, and our own analysis,
I am pleased to announce that the Government has concluded that
it should continue to support the WFD through a grant in aid by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and to retain its current
structures unchanged.
At the same time, in light of some of the Review's
observations, the Government and WFD agreed last year to make
some changes to the Foundation's operating methods to enhance
accountability and transparency. This has resulted in the introduction
of stronger mechanisms for appraising, monitoring and evaluating
projects, reflected in new, annual contractual arrangements between
the Foundation and the UK political parties.
The conclusion of agreement on these new measures
brings to an end the process initiated by the Review. Throughout
this period, we have appreciated the constructive and co-operative
approach of all the members of the Board and staff of the WFD,
under the Chairmanship first of my hon Friend the Member for Ilford
South, and now of my hon Friend the Member for the City of York.
The Government welcomes the conclusion of the review, and looks
forward to continuing to work in partnership with the WFD in our
joint endeavour to promote democracy around the world.
|
