Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reasons items relating to the Institute of Economic Affairs were removed from the official record of her ministerial meetings and hospitality for January to March 2020 on 19 August 2020.

The Secretary of State’s attendance at a dinner and two meetings on 10 February and 17 March was declared in line with the Government’s transparency requirements. The three engagements were conducted in line with the guidance to Ministers on meetings with external organisations.

After carefully considering Cabinet Office guidelines, and in the interests of full transparency, these entries have been reinstated as per the original departmental publication.

The Government does not routinely release detailed information about the operation of the ministerial private office.