§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what planned overseas ministerial visits(a) he proposes and (b) his Ministers propose to make this year; when the visits are scheduled; and if he will make a statement. [146872]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 23 January 2001]: Visits already announced and agreed with host Governments are as follows.
I plan to visit the United States in February to meet Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, and other members of the new Administration, as well as members of both Houses of Congress. I plan to go to France shortly afterwards for the Franco-British Summit. Other confirmed visits for this year are to Brussels and Sweden to fulfil regular EU commitments, Italy in July for the G8 Summit, and Brisbane in October to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), plans to visit Brussels and Sweden on EU business. He plans to visit India and Bangladesh in February in connection with his specific responsibility for entry clearance issues.
Baroness Scotland is currently visiting the Falklands and Antarctica, and the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle), is visiting Mexico.
Further visits will be announced in the usual way, as plans are finalised and agreed with host countries.