§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he next plans to make an official visit to Ascension Island; and for what purpose; [139102]
(2) if he will meet the hon. Members for (a) Totnes, (b) Vale of Glamorgan and (c) Cheltenham to discuss St. Helena before his departure to Ascension Island. [139103]
§ Mr. RammellMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Ascension Island in the near future.
However, I will pay a short visit to Ascension Island during a brief stop-over on the way to the Falkland Islands on 26 November 2003. During this visit I have no plans to meet the Legislative Council of St Helena, but will meet the Island Council of Ascension.
The Foreign Secretary has no plans to meet with the hon. Member for Totnes, my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith), and with the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) to discuss St. Helena. However, I shall meet with them before my visit to discuss St. Helena and Ascension Island.