HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 cc678-9W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) meetings and (b) official social contacts between Foreign Office (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers and Mr. Philip Gould from 1 May 1997 to date. [110510]

Mr. Robin Cook

Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code and guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis and, in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the recent departmental meetings with Stanley Greenberg and James Caville. [110511]

Mr. Hain

Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code and guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis and, in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.