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13 Nov 2007 : Column 229W—continued

Prime Minister

Ballistic Missile Defence: Czech Republic

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he held with his Czech counterpart on 8 November on the US deployment of national missile defense in Europe; and what conclusions were reached. [163899]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 8 November 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website at:

and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister which (a) hon. Members, (b) former hon. Members and (c) Peers who are not Members of the Labour Party he has invited to Downing Street since becoming Prime Minister. [162280]


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The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 October 2007, Official Report, column 819W.

Honours: Domicile

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that a person nominated for (a) membership of the House of Lords and (b) an honour is domiciled in the UK for income tax purposes; and if he will make a statement. [163654]

The Prime Minister: The House of Lords Appointments Commission set out in their annual report 2006-07 that they would now decline to scrutinise any candidate for a life peerage who is not currently resident in the UK for tax purposes. Honours do not confer any legislative or executive function and therefore may be conferred on people domiciled abroad.

IGC 2007

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to attend (a) the Signature Ceremony to conclude the 2007 Intergovernmental Council in Lisbon on 13 December and (b) the European Council in Brussels on 13 to 14 December. [163856]

The Prime Minister: Plans for the December European Council are yet to be confirmed.

Members: Correspondence

Mr. Steen: To ask the Prime Minister when he referred the letter from Access to Community Education, Brixham of 12 July to the Department for Work and Pensions for reply. [163483]

The Prime Minister: My office received the letter on 18 July 2007. A reply was sent to Access to Community Education by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 14 August 2007.

Members: Surveillance

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether it is his policy that no authorisation will be given for the interception of communications in respect of (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement. [162282]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 July 2007, Official Report, column 351W.

Public Relations: Prime Minister

Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which local and regional newspapers were briefed on his education speech of 31 October 2007 by the (a) Senior Press Officer - Regions, in the Prime Minister's Press Office and (b) other press officers in the Prime Minister's Press Office; and if he will make a statement; [163572]


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(2) what instructions were given to the regional press officers in the Downing Street Press Office in relation to the Prime Minister's education speech on 31 October 2007; and if he will make a statement; [163574]

(3) which schools the Downing Street Press Office told journalists would be mentioned in his education speech of 31 October; which schools were mentioned in the speech; and if he will make a statement. [163623]

The Prime Minister: All contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made to King Abdullah about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia during the King's recent visit to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [163907]


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The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with King Abdullah during his recent visit.

Tony Blair

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last met Tony Blair. [162279]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 October 2007, Official Report, column 820W.

World Cup

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed the appointment of the Government's World Cup ambassador with the Football Association before the appointment was made. [162835]

The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.


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