HC Deb 26 October 1987 vol 121 c10W
Mr. Wray

asked the Prime Minister how many Commonwealth countries' representatives attended the recent meeting in Vancouver.

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the communiqué, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Forty-five countries were represented at Vancouver, 37 at Head of Government. level.

Mr. Wray

asked the Prime Minister (1) what was the number of people who were members of the British delegation, including the supporting staff, during the Commonwealth meetings of Heads of Government held at London, Lusaka, Melbourne, New Delhi, Bahamas and Vancouver, respectively;

(2) what was the number of people serving the press and public relations requirements of the British delegations at the Commonwealth conferences at London, Lusaka, Melbourne, New Delhi, Bahamas and Vancouver respectively;

(3) if she will list the names of the persons serving the press and public relation requirements of Her Majesty's Government at the Commonwealth meeting in Vancouver;

(4) if she will list the members of the British delegation and all their supporting staff who attended the Vancouver meeting of the Commonwealth.

The Prime Minister

The numbers of the official delegation, including press officials, together with those of the accompanying support staff during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings concerned were as follows:

Official delegation Support staff
London 1977 22 17
Lusaka 1979 14 40
Melbourne 1981 15 42
New Delhi 1983 16 29
The Bahamas 1985 13 36
Vancouver 1987 15 38

The figures for support staff include security personnel and other technical staff. They take account of the fact that some meetings were held in venues other than capitals or where our residential diplomatic mission was small. They do not include personal protection officers. It would not be appropriate to list the names and responsibilities of individual members of the delegations.