§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister whether he consulted previous prime ministers before committing British forces to battle in Iraq. [105436]
§ The Prime MinisterI have discussions with a wide range of individuals and organisations. As with previous Administrations it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions, under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York; and if he will place in the Library copies of briefing material used in respect of that meeting. [106418]
§ The Prime MinisterI met United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York on 27 March. We discussed a range of issues including the on-going consultations on the Oil for Food Programme and the UN's role in Iraq.
Since that meeting the Security Council has unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 1472 (2003) providing for the continuation of the Oil for Food Programme.
Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.