HC Deb 20 November 1997 vol 301 cc268-9W
Mr. Garnier

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of his meeting with Mr. Bernie Ecclestone held on 16 October. [16319]

Mr. Maples

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the minutes of the meeting he held with Mr. Ecclestone and Mr. Mosley on 16 October; which ministers were present; and where it took place. [16740]

The Prime Minister

Because of the level of public interest in this matter, and as an exception to the normal practice, I have released the notes of the meeting which I held with Mr. Ecclestone and Mr. Mosley on 16 October at 10 Downing Street. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Maples

To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he informed the Secretary of State for Health of his decision to exempt Formula 1 from the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship; and by what means he notified him of the decision; [16744]

(2) when the decision was made to exempt Formula 1 from the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship; and what factors led him to conclude that there was an appearance of conflict of interest between the donation the Labour Party received from Mr. Ecclestone and the decision to exempt Formula 1 from the ban on tobacco sponsorship; [16737]

(3) what criteria he used in making his decision to refer the donation from Mr. Eccelstone to Sir Patrick Neill. [16743]

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave in the House on 12 November,Official Report, columns 898–99.

Mr. Maples

To ask the Prime Minister what criteria he used when deciding to meet representatives from sporting organisations affected by the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship. [16742]

The Prime Minister

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave in the House on 12 November,Official Report, column 900.

Mr. Maples

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those sports where representatives met Ministers to discuss the impact of a ban on tobacco sponsorship on their sports, indicating the date of appointment, and the names of those he saw and the organisations they represent. [16753]

The Prime Minister

On 24 June, the Minister for Sport met Maurice Lindsay of the Rugby Football League, Richard Little of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Jonathan Ashman of the RAC Motorsports Association and Martyn Blake of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

In addition, the Minister for Sport was present when the Minister for Public Health met Max Mosley of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile on 23 September.

Mr. Maples

To ask the Prime Minister what factors he took into account when deciding to publish the letter that was sent at his request to Sir Patrick Neill on 4 November and his subsequent reply.[16738]

The Prime Minister

The decision to publish the letter was taken by the author, the General Secretary of the Labour Party, with my agreement. The main factor I took into account in giving my agreement was transparency.

Mr. Tyrie

To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings his Chief of Staff has attended with Mr. Bernard Ecclestone since his appointment; and if he will give their dates.[16851]

The Prime Minister

One. On 16 October he attended my meeting with Mr. Ecclestone together with a Private Secretary.

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