Bilderberg Conference Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Bilderberg Conference

Edward Leigh Excerpts
Monday 10th June 2013

(11 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Clarke of Nottingham Portrait Mr Clarke
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I congratulate the hon. Gentleman. I am looking that up, because I had forgotten. Actually, I am a member of the steering committee. When we were hosting at Watford, I discovered that I am, among other things, a trustee of the British steering group, so I am checking, with the aid of my constituency office, whether I ever put that in. I assure the hon. Gentleman that I had completely forgotten that it was set up on that basis, long before the rules were established. The trustees have never met as trustees. All I actually do is sit as a member of a committee and play my part in helping with the organisation of a meeting, and that is all I have ever done.

Edward Leigh Portrait Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)
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We have had a bit of fun today—indeed, who would want to spend a weekend of irredeemable tedium discussing world economics with a bunch of establishment toffs? Surely the serious point is this, however: why on earth does the House of Commons think it is necessary to discuss what was said in a private meeting?

Lord Clarke of Nottingham Portrait Mr Clarke
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Perhaps my hon. Friend was not here when I started answering this question and said that this is the first time I have ever risen in the House of Commons to answer questions on behalf of a private organisation for which the British Government have absolutely no responsibility.