§ Mr. GrieveTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when her Department was first informed of the projected visit to Scotland of the Irish Taoiseach to unveil a memorial at Carlin on 11 February; [150828]
(2) when her Department was first informed that the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Roy) had written to the Irish Consul in Edinburgh to urge the Irish Taoiseach to cancel his visit to Scotland on 11 February; [150824]
(3) what discussions (a) she and (b) her predecessor had with the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Roy) prior o his writing to the Irish Consul in Edinburgh urging the Irish Taoiseach to cancel his visit to Scotland on 11 February, concerning the contents of that letter; [150825]
(4) when, and by whom, her Department was first informed that the planned visit to Scotland of the Irish Taoiseach due to take place on 11 February had been cancelled; [150823]
525W(5) when her Department was first informed of the content and nature of the letter written by the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Roy) urging the Irish Taoiseach to cancel his visit to Scotland on 11 February; [150826]
(6) what consultations took place between her Department and (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) the Irish Government concerning the planned visit to Scotland of the Irish Taoiseach to unveil a memorial at Carfin on 11 February; and when such consultations first took place. [150827]
§ Mrs. LiddellMy Department was not involved in preparations for the visit of the Irish Taoiseach planned for 11 February, nor was it consulted by my hon. Friend the Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr. Roy) or by the Irish authorities before the decision was taken to cancel that visit. I received a letter of invitation to the ceremony at Carfin on Friday 2 February, and I learned of the Irish decision to cancel the visit from news reports on Thursday 8 February.