§ 21. Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the Members of Parliament who were invited to attend the Fanfare for Europe reception at Saint Donat's Castle on 5th January 1973.
§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Thomas)Invitations were sent to 12 right hon. and hon. Members. I will write to the hon. Member giving names.
§ Mr. JohnSince when has it been the convention on the part of the Government no longer to invite the Member for the constituency concerned, whether or not he would propose to attend? I myself would not have attended that charade.
§ Mr. ThomasI regret that the hon. Gentleman was not invited. It was an error on my part, and I apologise to him. The reason was that the list was made up before the venue had been decided upon.
§ Mr. MartenCan we have an assurance that the losses on Fanfare for Europe will not be charged to public funds?
§ Mr. ThomasI do not think there were any losses. There were considerable gains.