§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings he has had with(a) McDonald's and (b) Manpower since becoming Secretary of State; and if civil servants were present. [61986]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: I have had no meetings with McDonald's or Manpower since my appointment as Secretary of State.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Telecom on 30 October. [62003]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: The meeting with British Telecom was attended by the Chief Executive, Sir Peter Bonfield, and two others from BT, as well as officials from my Department. Strategic issues concerning the company and its future business were discussed.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what aspects of the Millennium Dome he discussed with Mr. S. P. Hinduja and Mr. G. P. Hinduja at his meeting on 6 October. [62203]
§ Mr. MandelsonI met with S. P. Hinduja and G. P. Hinduja at my offices to discuss Indo-British relations. The Millennium Dome was not on the agenda, but was referred to in passing at the end of the meeting. There was no substantive discussion.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many meetings he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Ltd. since he became the Minister responsible for the Millennium Experience; where they were held; what was the subject matter; and if civil servants were present; [62000]
(2) how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Ltd. since 2 May 1997; and what was the subject matter; [62001]
291W(3) how many meetings he has had with the directors or employees of Sangam Limited since he became Secretary of State; where they were held; what was the subject matter; and if civil servants were present; [61999]
(4) on what dates he has had meetings with (a) Srichand P. Hinduja, Chairman and (b) Gopichand P. Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group of Companies since 2 May 1997; what was the location of the meetings and the subject matter discussed; and if officials were present. [61977]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer I December 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him today in response to questions Numbers 61976 and 62203.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many informal meetings he has had since 2 May 1997 at which Government business was discussed with(a) Srichand P. Hinduja, Chairman and (b) Gopichand P. Hinduja, President of the Hinduja Group of Companies. [61976]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: As Minister without Portfolio, I met the Hindujas on a number of occasions, sometimes formally and otherwise at social events. Since becoming Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I have had one meeting with the Hindujas on 6 October.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with British Airways. [61993]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: In my capacity as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I have had no meetings with British Airways. In my capacity as shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company, I meet Bob Ayling, the Chief Executive of BA, from time to time in his capacity as Chairman of NMEC.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the meetings he has held with the British Council relating to the promotion of trade and industry abroad. [61514]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 30 November 1998]: Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, I have opened a new British Council English language training centre in Johannesburg on 15 September and attended the Pontignano conference, hosted by the British Council, in Italy on 19 September.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 26 October; [61983]
(2) who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 7 September; [61998]
(3) how many informal meetings at which Government business was discussed he has had with British Aerospace. [61994]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: Each of these meetings with British Aerospace was attended by at least one director of British Aerospace and at least one official from my Department. On each occasion strategic issues affecting the future business of British Aerospace were discussed. I apologise to the hon.
292WMember for the fact that my answer to him of 19 November 1998, Official Report, columns 882–83, was incomplete, in that I also met British Aerospace on 3 September for a similar purpose. Beyond this, I have held no informal meetings with British aerospace since I was appointed Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 21 October; [62004]
(2) who was present and what was discussed at his meeting with British Aerospace on 14 November. [62005]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 2 December 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today in response to his questions 61983, 61998 and 61994.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company since 30 July; what was discussed; and if officials were present. [61984]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 1 December 1998]: Since 30 July, I have met the Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) 4 times at the Millennium Experience Co-ordinating Group at which progress of the Millennium Experience project was discussed. I also met the Chairman at a working lunch at my office with other members of the New Millennium Experience Company Board and officials.