§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times press officers have accompanied Ministers on foreign visits in each of the past three years. [119931]
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§ Marjorie MowlamDetails of press officers accompanying Ministers on foreign visits are not held centrally. I can, however, respond regarding foreign visits of Cabinet Office Ministers since May 1997.
As Minister for the Cabinet Office I have not been accompanied by a press officer on any of my foreign visits, nor was my predecessor. Records indicate that, since May 1997, press officers have accompanied other Cabinet Office Ministers as follows: my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on five occasions and my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on two occasions.