§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the meetings which(a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of broadcasters since 8 June 2001, stating for each meeting the (i) date on which it took place,(ii) the broadcasters represented at the meeting and (iii) primary purpose. [33319]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 4 February 2002]: My ministerial colleagues and I have met many representatives from the broadcasting industry in the course of our duties since 8 June 2001 as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis and in order to preserves this confidentiality it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.