To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department and its predecessor held with Sovereign Strategy in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Since the Department for Transport was formed in 2002, Ministers have attended two events either solely or partly organised by Sovereign Strategy.

On 14 December 2005, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend Derek Twigg spoke at the 'Local Government Transport conference' which Sovereign Strategy helped organise.

On 16 May 2006 a representative of Sovereign Strategy attended a meeting between the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Halton, and the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus).

Additionally Transport Ministers have attended other events not organised by Sovereign Strategy but at which individuals employed by them may have been present. No record is kept of such encounters.

Information regarding officials could be provided only at disproportionate cost.