§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Step Change Project, listing its aims, objectives and methods. [124332]
§ Mr. VazFollowing Britain's Presidency in 1998, the Prime Minister called for a "Step Change" in Britain's relations with its European partners. The initiative is intended to increase ministerial and official contacts across Europe and thereby promote British interests in the EU. As Minister for Europe, I co-ordinate Whitehall's "Step Change" efforts through the "Ministerial Group for European Co-ordination" (MINECOR).