HL Deb 12 October 2004 vol 665 c51WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the seminar organised in June by civil servants to train loyalist paramilitary support groups in presentational skills was officially approved by the relevant department beforehand; and whether it was part of the overall policy of community engagement endorsed by the two administrations. [HL4210]

Baroness Amos

No member of the Northern Ireland Civil Service was involved in organising the seminar attended by members of the Ulster Political Research Group. Therefore the issue of departmental approval does not arise. As already stated in my answer of 7 September (WA 106), both Governments endorse the policy of engagement with community groups.