Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were invited to the conference in Newcastle on Wednesday 29 March about the Delors package of European aid for Northern Ireland; how many were invited in their capacity as local government404W elected members; how many hon. Members were invited; and if he will make a statement. [19758]
§ Sir John WheelerA total of 248 invitations were issued for the conference in Newcastle on 29 March on the Delors package of European aid for Northern Ireland, 52 of which were sent to the chief executives of district councils. Councils were free to use these places as they wished for local government elected members or officials with functional responsibility. Members of Parliament were not invited because the purpose of the conference was to give local people on the ground the opportunity to make their views known. The decision to focus the conference in this way took account of the fact that elected representatives have the opportunity to meet Ministers to discuss matters such as the Delors package of European aid.