Written question asked by Crispin Blunt (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 May 2004. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 May 2004 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with the management of Govan/Kvaerner to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard; what role he played in informal and oral approaches made to GEC over the purchase of Govan shipyard; on which dates in 1999 he met Mr George Simpson of GEC; if he will publish minutes of the meetings; and if he will list the attendees at those meetings; what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with GEC in 1999 over (i) the proposed merger of BAE-GEC and (ii) Govan shipyard; and if he will publish the communications; what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with Kvaerner, their representatives and advisers over the proposed closure of the Govan shipyard in 1999; what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with Sir Gavin Laird to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard. - Inc fact that it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Answer: Mr. Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with the management of Govan/Kvaerner to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard; [R] [174254] (2) what role he played in informal and oral approaches made to GEC over the purchase of Govan shipyard; [R] [174256] (3) on which dates in 1999 he met Mr. George Simpson of GEC; if he will publish minutes of the meetings; and if he will list the attendees at those meetings; [174311] (4) what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with GEC in 1999 over (i) the proposed merger of BAE-GEC and (ii) Govan shipyard; and if he will publish the communications; [174312] (5) what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with Kvaerner, their representatives and advisers over the proposed closure of the Govan shipyard in 1999; [174313] (6) what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with Sir Gavin Laird to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard. [174315] The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Secondary information