HL Deb 28 June 1996 vol 573 c80WA
Lord Finsberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many meetings of, or organised by, the Western European Union have been attended by Ministers or officials of:

  1. (i) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
  2. (ii) The Ministry of Defence; and
  3. (iii) The Department of Trade and Industry.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Either the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Ministry of Defence or (and this is usual) both government departments, work on the basis of sending officials to all meetings of the Western European Union. We are unaware of any meetings which they have missed. Ministers attend WEU ministerial meetings as well as sessions of the WEU Assembly and its Presidential Committee during a British Presidency of the WEU. Officials and Ministers from the Department of Trade do not attend meetings of the Western European Union.

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