§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which journalists and publications were invited to attend his press conference with his French counterpart on 27 June; what criteria were adopted in deciding who was invited to attend; and if he will make a statement on the exclusion of journalists from the press conference. [32432]
§ Mr. SoamesInvitations to the press briefing on 27 June were extended to French correspondents and broadcast organisations based in London and to accredited defence correspondents of main domestic news media. The Defence press office, which was responsible for issuing invitations, did not seek to exclude journalists from any recognised news organisation.