HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 cc67-8W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it has been Government policy since 1997 to boycott the purchase of fine wines from certain countries for the Government wine cellar as part of the ethical foreign policy; and if he will make a statement. [39651]

Mr. MacShane

Wine in the Government wine cellar is bought on the basis of quality and value for money from wine producing democracies in Europe, the Commonwealth and the Americas.

Since 1997 Government Hospitality has only bought wines from England, Wales. France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I have asked Government Hospitality to include Latin American wines in the future.

Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason his Department is the lead Department in managing Government wine stocks. [39649]

Mr. MacShane

The Government wine cellar is managed by Government Hospitality Section of Conference and Visits Group, with the advice of the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine. Responsibility for the Government Hospitality Fund (as it then was) was transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Cabinet Office/Civil Service Department by a Cabinet decision in 1980.