HC Deb 03 December 2003 vol 415 cc109-10W
Brian Cotter:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service has had with Ministers in each Government Department in the last year. [141606]

Nigel Griffiths:

The Chief Executive of the Small Business Service meets Ministers in this and other Departments. As with other contacts between officials and Ministers, however, the frequency and nature of such advice however remains private, under Exemption 2—Internal advice and discussion of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Brian Cotter:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service has made (a) direct representations to the Prime Minister and (b) held meetings with the Prime Minister in each year since the organisation came into operation. [141608]

Nigel Griffiths:

The Chief Executive of the Small Business Service meets Ministers in this and other Departments. As with other contacts between officials, the Prime Minister and Ministers, however, the frequency and nature of such advice however remains private, under Exemption 2—Internal advice and discussion of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.