§ Mr. Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that Ministers representing the United Kingdom abroad are adequately briefed on the London 2012 Olympic bid. [140506]
§ Tessa Jowell:All Ministers have been briefed on the International Olympic Committee's Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct that applies to Applicant Cities. This advice included details of what Ministers could and could not do in support of the London 2012 bid, particularly in relation to overseas promotion, which cannot be undertaken until after November 2004.
65WThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office have in place arrangements for overseas missions to alert their Public Diplomacy Policy Department to relevant visits by Ministers so that appropriate briefing on the London 2012 bid can be provided.
A working group of officials from Government Departments has been formed, chaired by DCMS, and has met regularly. The terms of reference for the group are to provide advice to the bidding organisation, London 2012, on the relevant Government interests in the bid and to provide advice on Olympic bid matters to Government Ministers.