§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what dates since 30 September 2002 the Prime Minister has met Mr Rupert Murdoch or spoken to him on the telephone respectively. [HL4639]
§ Baroness AmosThe Government's position on the disclosure of information relating to contacts with outside interest groups or individuals remains as set out in its response to the sixth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is that it should not be the normal practice to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies. Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. Some of these discussions will take place on a confidential basis.