§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what occasions(a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests; [8097]
(2) if he will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 of the Register of Members' Interests. [8094]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest, not the Minister to know. It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, amongst their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' interests.