§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the German ban on British beef is lifted quickly; and if he will make a statement. [97792]
§ Ms QuinMy right hon. Friend the Minister has been assured by the German Health Minister that the German Government are taking the necessary legal steps to lift the ban via the appropriate constitutional procedures which involve discussions with the Länder whose agreement is needed to lift the ban. The recent Scientific Steering Committee Opinion should make it clear to the Länder that British beef exports are safe.
Dates Location Minister US counterpart 18–19 May Washington Foreign Secretary William Cohen, Secretary of Defense Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State Sandy Berger, Deputy National Security Adviser 21–22 July Washington Mr. Lloyd John Shattuck, Assistant Secretary for Human Rights, State Department Ted McNamara, Assistant Secretary for Pol-Mil Affairs, State Department Tom Pickering, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, State Department John Kornblum, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, State Department Mac McLarty, Special Envoy to the President for the Americas Tim Wirth, Under Secretary for Global Affairs, State Department John Holum, Director for Arms Control and Disarmament Agency 25–16 November Washington Mr. Fatchett Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs, State Department Dennis Ross, Special Mid East Envoy, State Department I also met Mrs. Albright on a number of other 10/5/2549occasions in the UK and in the margins of international meetings, and received her as my guest at Chevening on 27 December. I also had bilateral meetings with Mrs. Albright during the G8 Summit in Denver in June 1997 and at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 1997.Unfortunately, the information the hon. Member requires on meetings which have taken place in the UK and third countries is not held centrally, and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times.