§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the purpose of the official hospitality recently given by her at the Old Russia Restaurant, Horseferry Road, Westminster; what were the names of the trade unionists she entertained; and what was the cost of this entertainment to public funds.
§ Mrs. CastleSome colleagues and I met TUC representatives at the Old Russia Restaurant last year, to discuss 117W National Health Service matters. It is an established custom for Ministers, when it is in the public interest to do so, to hold private discussions of this kind in an informal atmosphere, and without revealing the names of participants. The cost to public funds was far outweighed by the value of the public business transacted.