§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions since her appointment on 6 December 1999 as co-ordinator of Social Exclusion Unit Policies, Dr Mowlam has (a) chaired meetings on rural social exclusion; and (b) visited the countryside to see first-hand the problems of social exclusion. [HL1496]
§ The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked in December 1997 by the Prime Minister to chair the Ministerial Network on 109WA Social Exclusion. At this time the network was given a new remit to chase progress across government on implementation of past SEU reports on subjects such as rough sleeping and teenage pregnancy.
To date, my right honourable friend has chaired no meetings specifically on rural social exclusion. My right honourable friend has made visits to the countryside in the Duchy of Lancaster.