HC Deb 30 April 1999 vol 330 cc283-4W
Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), had with the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on 16 April. [81675]

Mr. Prescott

[holding answer 22 April 1999]: None.

Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) withdrew his agreement to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce conference on transport, on Friday 16 April. [81671]

Mr. Prescott

[holding answer 22 April 1999]: Because of the late starting of the conference, there was insufficient time for my hon. Friend to take questions. He therefore offered to respond in writing to any questions that people wished to raise.

Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he instructed the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) not to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early; and what discussions he had with the Under-Secretary of State and the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the conference. [81676]

Mr. Prescott

[holding answer 22 April 1999]: No; none.

Sir Brian Mawhinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of his replies to the correspondence he has received about the decision by the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), not to answer questions following his speech to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early. [81674]

Mr. Prescott

[holding answer 22 April 1999]: No.