Written question asked by Patrick Nicholls (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 July 2000. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Thursday, 20 July 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list those spouses of ministers who within the last year have stayed as guests at the British (a) Embassy and (b) Residence in Lisbon when not accompanied by their minister spouses; and if he will give the duration of the stay in each case. - (Holding answer 18 July 2000).

Answer: Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those spouses of Ministers who within the last year have stayed as guests at the British (a) Embassy and (b) Residence in Lisbon when not accompanied by their Minister spouses; and if he will give the duration of the stay in each case. [131260] Mr. Vaz: [holding answer 18 July 2000]: The only unaccompanied ministerial spouse to stay at the Residence in Lisbon during the last year was my wife, Maria Fernandes, who stayed for one night on 26 June before the EU-India Business Summit on 27 June. As Minister for Europe, I had planned to attend the Summit but was forced to cancel owing to other ministerial duties. Ms Fernandes attended the Summit in her own right as a Member of the Council of the Law Society for Ethnic Minorities and met her own travel expenses to and from the Summit.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 354 c269W; 131260
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Ministers Foreign and Commonwealth Office Visits abroad Portugal Embassies Members' partners
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk