§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Elmet of 13 July 2000,Official Report, columns 631–32W, for what reasons (a) the Treasury, Home Office and Department of Social Security were not represented by Ministers at the Green Ministers Meeting and (b) the Cabinet Office, Prime Minister's Office, Department for Education and Employment, Wales Office, Scotland Office, Northern Ireland Office and Ministry of Defence were not represented at the meeting. [132016]
§ Mr. MeacherGreen Ministers from Treasury, Department of Social Security, Cabinet Office, Department for Education and Employment and Ministry of Defence were engaged on official business elsewhere. The Green Minister for the Home Office had an unavoidable private engagement. All but the Department for Education and Employment and Ministry of Defence were represented by officials. The Wales Office, Scotland Office, Northern Ireland Office and Prime Minister's Office receive papers for meetings but only attend on an ad hoc basis.