Written question asked by David Heathcoat-Amory (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 January 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 January 2007. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 January 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

European Direct Centres

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Direct centres have been opened; where each is located; and how much in public funds has been committed to each one.

Answer: 25 Europe Direct centres have opened across the UK hosted in a range of organisations including Libraries, Chambers of Commerce and Local Government Offices. The European Commission part fund the centres up to 50 per cent. with the remainder coming from the contractual partner itself, which is in all cases necessarily a public-sector or not-for-profit entity. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not committed any funds to the Europe Direct Centres, but has helped to raise the profile of their launches and provided input to training events.The location of the centres and the amount funded by the Commission in Financial Year 2006-07 for each one are as follows: Plymouth (€24,000), Eastleigh (€24,000), London (€23,996.62), Coventry (€24,000), Llangollen (€24,000), Cardiff (€24,000), Durham (€12,000), Luton (€24,000), Newton (€23,981.50), Camarthen (€24,000), Paignton (€24,000), Leeds (€23,999.73), Gloucester (€24,000), Belfast - two Centres (€23,330 and €24,000), Wrexham (€23,417), Ashford - three Centres (€24,000 each), Derry (€17,000), Highlands and Islands (€21,397), Edinburgh - two Centres (€24,000 each), North and Western Lancashire (€24,000) and Ballygawley in Co Tyrone (€12,000).

Secondary information