§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to open the visa centre in Jallander, Punjab, India. [84901]
§ Mr. RammellWe hope to open a visa application centre in Jallander early in 2003. We also hope to open a network of such centres across India to bring UK visa services nearer to our customers.
§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers have visited India since 1 January 2001; and which Department they were from. [84902]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe following Ministers have visited India since 1 January 2001
January 2001—Right hon. Baroness Blackstone, Minister of State for Education and Employment, Department for Education and Skills;January 2001—Right hon. Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Department of Trade and Industry;January 2001—Right hon. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, Department for International Development;February 2001—Right hon. Baroness Symons, Minister for Defence Procurement, Ministry of Defence;July 2001—Right hon. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister;October 2001—Right hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister;October/November 2001—Douglas Alexander, Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness, Department of Trade and Industry;November 2001—Right hon. GeotfHoon, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence;January 2002—Right hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister;February 2002—Nigel Griffiths, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Department of Trade and Industry;February 2002—Right hon. Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;February 2002—Ben Bradshaw, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;February 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;May 2002—Right hon. Geoffery Hoon, Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence;May 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;July 2002—Right hon. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;September 2002—Right hon. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister;October/November 2002—Right hon. Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;October 2002—Right hon. Michael Meacher, Minister of State (Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;October 2002—Mike O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office;October 2002—Stephen Timms, Minister of State for School Standards, Department for Education and Skills;November 2002—Right hon. Paul Boateng, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Her Majesty's Treasury;December 2002—Right hon. Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, Department for International Development.