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Official Engagements

Answer

Throughout the period 1 to 31 December, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. On 1 December, I visited the Longannet power station in Alloa and participated in the Scottish Interfaith Week Come and Play the Diversity Game event in Edinburgh. On 3 December, I answered oral Defence questions in the House of Commons. On 4 December, I met with service families about the Board of Inquiry findings into the crash of the RAF Nimrod XV230 before attending the House to make a statement about the same. On 5 December, I gave oral evidence to the AFPRB and in the evening I attended a Sailor, Soldier, Airmen and Families Association carol service at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington barracks. On 6 December, I met representatives from the services charity 'Forward Edge Battle Area'. Between December 7 and December 10, I was overseas visiting service personnel in Afghanistan. On 11 December and 12 December, I had meetings with several families of troops who died on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. On 12 December I attended the Scotch Whisky Association reception in Dover House. On 14 and 15 December, I hosted a meeting in Edinburgh for the Defence and Foreign Ministers of nations contributing troops to NATO-led operations in southern Afghanistan. On 17 December I discussed the outcome of the Edinburgh meeting with the NATO Secretary-General and also met Ross Kemp to discuss his recent visit to Afghanistan. On 18 December I met representatives from Serco Defence, Science and Technology. On 19 December I held a video conference with representatives of the independent panel set up by the Canadian government to review their future role in Afghanistan (the Manley Panel). On 20 December, I took the salute at a passing out parade at the Army Training Regiment in Bassingbourn.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

472 c4-5W; 182880

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Scotland Office Official engagements

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk