§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings he has held with the Government of the Czech Republic regarding the possible sale of Gripen jets and the Czech decision to buy supersonic aircraft since 1 January 1999; when each of these meetings was held; where each of these meetings was held; and whom in the Government of the Czech Republic he met on each occasion. [123159]
§ Mr. IngramDefence Ministers are in frequent contact with members of the government of the Czech Republic and regularly meet in both bilateral and multilateral fora. A range of issues are routinely discussed.
The Defence Secretary held formal bilateral meetings at which the Czech requirement for supersonic aircraft was discussed on the following occasions:
- 23 November 1999 during the WEU Ministerial meeting in Luxembourg—with the Czech Defence Minister;
- 11 October 2000 in the UK (London)—with the Czech Prime Minister;
- 3–4 December 2001 in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister;
- 23 July 2002 in the UK (Farnborough International Air Show)—with the Czech Defence Minister;
- 24 September 2002 during the NATO informal Defence Ministers' meeting in Poland (Warsaw)—with the Czech Defence Minister;
- 21 November 2002 during the NATO Summit in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister;
- 30 April 2003 in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister