§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent and in what ways the Foreign Policy Centre has influenced his Department's policy initiatives; and if he will make a statement. [46706]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Foreign Policy Centre is an independent policy institute launched in March of this year. It is established practice for Foreign Office Officials and Ministers to have contact with policy institutes and NGOs and to consider their views when developing policy. These contacts occur at all levels of the Foreign Office and are an important and valued part of the policy-making process. Policy institutes and NGOs contribute to a wider public debate which can also influence policy. The nature of these contacts means it is not possible to assess the influence of one particular policy institute in isolation from other institutes and NGOs.