§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with Manpower since 1 February; and on what matters. [54395]
§ Mr. Ian McCartney[holding answer 31 July 1998]: Ministers, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, private sector organisations, trade unions and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. But they must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation, or allow improper influence on policy. It is not our policy to make information on meetings or their content public.