§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions since 1979 Ministers met representatives of Century Oil Company Ltd., and BHP Petroleum Ltd. in their official capacity; what issues were raised at such meetings; and which Ministers attended. [4295]
§ Mr. Page[holding answer 18 November 1996]: Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Energy have met representatives of Century Oil Company Ltd. or BHP Petroleum Ltd. in their present ministerial capacities. However, my right hon. and noble Friend has agreed to meet BHP Petroleum Ltd. on 29 November 1996.
I attended a reception on 9 May 1996 at the House of Commons to which I was invited by my right hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Sir W. Roberts) in conjunction with BHP Petroleum Ltd. This was a social engagement.
I understand that my predecessors met representatives of BHP Petroleum Ltd. on occasion to discuss matters of topical interest.