§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many bilateral meetings were held between his Department and its Austrian counterpart in each of the last five years; and what was discussed at each meeting since May 1997; [109875]
(2) if he will list those previously planned meetings and their subject, between his Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109896]
§ Ms JowellBefore the formation of the new Austrian Government the Department for Education and Employment or its predecessor Departments had a range of bilateral contacts with the relevant Austrian Ministries. Since May 1997 discussions have concentrated on education and training policies and programmes and were mostly in the context of the Austrian Presidency of the EU.
No DfEE bilateral meetings had been arranged at the time that the new Austrian Government was formed.