§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis it was decided to make the forthcoming visit of President Bush an official state visit. [139412]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienPresident and Mrs. Bush have been invited to visit Britain as guests of Her Majesty The Queen. This is an opportunity to celebrate the many dimensions of the UK's long-standing relationship with the United States, which includes strong cultural and economic ties and goes much wider than the political relationship. Each state visit is considered on an individual basis, underlining the relationship between the UK and the nation of the visiting Head of State. On this basis, it is appropriate for the visit to be a state visit.