§ Sir George YoungTo ask the Prime Minister on what occasions(a) he and (b) civil servants at No. 10 Downing Street have met representatives of (i) GPC Market Access, (ii) Lawson Lucas Mendelsohn and (iii) GJW Government Relations since 1 May 1997; who these representatives were; and what was discussed at the meetings. [50557]
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the occasions on which any director of Prima Europe or GPC Market Access has visited No. 10 Downing Street, since 1 May 1997; [50475]
(2) if he will list the occasions on which Mr. Roger Liddle has visited the premises of or met any director of GPC Market Access and Prima Europe since 1 May 1997. [50474]
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters, their Special Advisers and other civil servants meet many people in the course of their work. This properly includes meetings with interest groups outside Government; indeed one of the specific functions of Special Advisers is to liaise with such interest groups. This liaison is intended to help Ministers draw upon outside contributions—from academics, think-tanks, trade and industry associations, trade unions, lobby groups and others, as well as relevant experience from other countries—during the process of policy analysis and development. By convention it is not the practice of Governments to make information on such meetings or their content publicly available—a principle reflected in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information published in January 1997. Special advisers and other civil servants must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy. Any breach of these requirements could be a disciplinary offence.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions when Roger Liddle has addressed meetings set up by(a) GPC Market Access and (b) other lobbying organisations, indicating whether these meetings were held under Chatham House rules. [50462]
§ The Prime MinisterSpecial Advisers and other civil servants address events arranged by outside organisations on many occasions, since part of their role is to inform the public and interested bodies about Government policy. Whether any such meetings are held publicly or privately, Special Advisers must observe the requirements of propriety: for instance, they must not provide confidential information without authorisation or allow improper influence on policy.