§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received an invitation to attend the Dock-lands forum/joint Docklands action group joint conference held in London on Saturday 21 July; why he declined the invitation; why he failed to arrange for a junior Minister to represent him; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineI received an invitation on 21 June. The Government's policy on the inner cities is under review and I had already begun discussions through the partnership machinery on the implications for Docklands. I consider that to be the appropriate forum, and in the circumstances I did not think it appropriate to ask a junior Minister to attend.