HC Deb 21 March 2002 vol 382 cc510-1W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements his Department has made to celebrate(a) St. Patrick's Day, (b) St. George's Day, (c) St. Andrew's Day and (d) Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and how his Department celebrated St. David's Day. [42303]

Mr. Bradshaw

[holding answer 11 March 2002]: There were no special arrangements made for St. David's Day or St. Patrick's Day. Neither are there special arrangements being made to celebrate St. George's Day and St. Andrew's Day.

The FCO is sponsoring the tour of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Baton through 23 Commonwealth countries. It left London on Monday 11 March, Commonwealth Day, and will return to the UK on 5 June. Our missions overseas will arrange events and encourage publicity to support the Baton's passage, supported by local Commonwealth Games associations and the British Council.

Additionally, there will be eight open days from April to October when the FCO will be open to view by members of the public. It is one of the "String of Pearls" historic public buildings that will be open to the public, along the banks of the Thames in central London.

We have issued general guidance to all our missions overseas on the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee. Many of our embassies and high commissions will use the occasion to enhance their annual Queen's birthday party. Missions will also hold additional events using publicity materials specifically prepared for the Jubilee in the FCO, taking into account The Queen's desire that there should be no undue expenditure from public funds.