§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the role he has asked Ms C. Booth QC to play in connection with Government policy formulation; [55834]
(2) if he will list the official functions which he has asked Ms C. Booth QC to undertake since 1 January 2000; [55835]
(3) if he will make a statement on the public accountability of Ms C. Booth QC in respect of activities she undertakes which contribute to the work of Government; [55836]
(4) whether Lord Birt was present at the recent transport seminar chaired by Ms C. Booth QC; [55837]
(5) if he will list those who attended the recent seminar on transport at No. 10 Downing Street chaired by Ms C. Booth QC; [55838]
(6) if he will make it his policy that seminars held at No. 10 Downing Street will henceforth be chaired by elected Ministers; [55742]
(7) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent transport seminar at 10 Downing Street chaired by Ms C. Booth QC; [55743]
(8) if he will list the dates since I May 1997 on which Ms C. Booth QC has chaired seminars at 10 Downing Street listing in each case (a) the subject under discussion and (b) which Ministers attended. [55744]
§ The Prime MinisterMrs. Blair does not participate in the work of the Government and therefore the issue of accountability does not arise. She has not chaired a policy-making seminar at No. 10.
The nature of the lectures Mrs. Blair has attended at No. 10 was made clear in the press notice issued by my office of 5 January 1999: "The Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair will launch a debate on Britain in the new millennium by hosting a series of lectures by leading figures to highlight some of the challenges we will face in the next century. The 1999 millennium lectures will cover education, work, leisure, wealth creation, science, arts and culture and what it means to be British in the 21st century". The lectures are not part of the policy-making process and there are no formal outcomes. Mrs. Blair has invited questions from guests when I have been unable to remain for the duration of the lecture, and hosted the drinks reception after the lecture. She plays no part in the discussions.
Mrs. Blair has attended the following lectures:
27 January 1999—Professor Jonathan Gershuny on work and leisure.
11 March 1999—Professor Susan Greenfield on science.
26 May 1999—David Potter on wealth creation and the knowledge economy.
15 July 1999—Sir Geoff Hampton on education.
13 October 1999—Derrick Anderson on art and culture.
8 December 1999—Professor Linda Colley on Britishness.
713W6 March 2000—Sue Page on health.
4 December 2000—Tessa Tennant on the environment.
17 December 2001—K. Y. Amoako on Africa.
11 February 2002—Jeremy Acklam on transport.
13 May 2002—Martin Narey on the criminal justice system.
It is not my practice to list individual names of guests invited to receptions and events at 10 Downing Street.
714WPeople who attended were from Government and a wide range of outside organisations. Representatives from the media have been invited and have attended the series of lectures. Lord Birt did not attend the transport seminar.
For details of official and charity receptions hosted by Mrs. Blair and me, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February 2002, Official Report, column 1444–48W.