§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list all the occasions on which he has met any of the Hinduja brothers since 1 May 1997. [161102]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Maidstone and the Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 31 January 2001,Official Report, column 224W.
§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if prior notification of the meeting of 4 June 1998 between the Prime Minister and S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra was given to the United States Administration; [161081]
(2) if the United States Administration was notified of the outcome of the meeting of 4 June 1998 between the Prime Minister and S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra; [161082]
(3) what assurances he received from the Government of India about the standing and status of S. P. Hinduja and G. P. Hinduja prior to his meeting with them and Brajesh Mishra on 4 June 1998; and if he will make a statement; [161076]
(4) if the British High Commission in Delhi was consulted about the meeting with Brajesh Mishra and the Hinduja brothers on 4 June 1998 prior to its taking place; [161080]
(5) if the Government took prior advice about the Prime Minister's meeting with S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra of 4 June 1998 from the Indian High Commissioner in London. [161078]
§ The Prime MinisterI have regular exchanges on a variety of matters with Commonwealth and foreign Governments. It is established practice under successive Administrations not to disclose details of confidential discussions with such Governments, or confirm whether they have, or have not occurred.
§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if(a) he or (b) his office told Sir Anthony Hammond QC of the existence of the exchanges of correspondence that had taken place between him and the Hinduja brothers since 1 May 1997; [161084]
(2) if (a) he or (b) his office advised Sir Anthony Hammond QC of the Prime Minister's meeting with S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra on 4 June 1998. [161077]
§ The Prime MinisterI made it clear when I set up the independent review headed by Sir Anthony Hammond QC into the applications for naturalisation by S. P. and 409W G. P. Hinduja, that all relevant information that he required would be made available to him. I also said that it was for Sir Anthony to decide how he carried out the review, what papers and files he needed to see and to whom he needed to speak.
I published Sir Anthony's report in full on 9 March which concluded that:
no improper pressure was brought to bear by any Minister in respect of these applications".
§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister (1) when he was first asked to agree to the meeting of 4 June 1998 with S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra; [161083]
(2) what the purpose was of his meeting on 4 June 1998 with S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra; who else was present at the meeting; what official note of the meeting was taken and by whom: and if he will make a statement; [161075]
(3) at whose instigation the meeting with S. P. Hinduja, G. P. Hinduja and Brajesh Mishra on 4 June 1998 took place; and if he will make a statement. [161079]
§ The Prime MinisterAs had been made clear no such meeting took place. I greeted Brajesh Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Indian Government, who delivered a letter from the Indian Prime Minister. Mr. Mishra then had a meeting with Downing street officials. They discussed Anglo-Indian relations and regional issues.