§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the conferences held by his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the(a) purpose and (b) estimated cost. [27809]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 5 February 1998]: I hold a range of meetings with outsiders within 10 Downing Street on policy matters. These vary in size. I have held two gatherings, which might be termed conferences, when there were more than 40 people present.
252WThe first was an education summit held on 4 September 1997 to enable practitioners in schools to contribute to Government thinking on raising standards in schools. The cost of this seminar was £400.
The second, on 4 December 1997, was a summit which brought together senior businessmen, scientists and others to discuss how business could help in tackling climate change. Any costs incurred were minimal.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister how many of his officials attended conferences(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas; and how many and what percentage made (i) oral and (ii) written contributions to the matters under discussion in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [31170]
§ The Prime MinisterThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.