Party Political Meetings

HC Deb 18 May 1998 vol 312 cc262-3W

Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what factors underlay the decision of the Prime Minister to address the Party of European Socialists at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April; [40750]

(2) if he will set out the rules concerning the holding of party political meetings in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [40751]

Mr. Robin Cook

When available, the historical rooms in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are on occasion used by outside organisations (usually with an international dimension) for meetings or receptions, and subject to payment of a fee: there must be no cost to public funds.

The only occasion since the General Election when these premises have been used for a party occasion was a meeting of the Party of European Socialists in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April. This meeting was attended by eight European Prime Ministers, and represented a valuable opportunity to set out the Government's approach on employability and economic reform in advance of the Cardiff Summit. The meeting was held at no additional cost to public funds.