§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department provides to officials in UK embassies and diplomatic missions overseas with regard to the arrangement and conduct of(a) meetings and (b) telephone discussions concerning commercial matters. [102387]
§ Mr. Rammell[holding answer 11 March 2003]No specific guidance has been issued regarding the arrangement or conduct of meetings or telephone discussions concerning commercial matters. General guidance to staff in British Trade International, including staff in overseas posts, emphasises the need to ensure that information provided by business contacts is handled carefully and that information received from or about a British business should not be disclosed, without the latter's permission, to other firms or organisations.