To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outside organisations used the conference facilities at his offices in Victoria Street in the last year for which figures are available. [76975]

The majority of events making use of the Department's conference facilities at 1 Victoria Street are internal.Of 2,495 events held during 1998, less than 1 per cent. were organised by outside bodies. A further 25 per cent. of events were co-ordinated by DTI staff but in conjunction with organisations from outside the Department.The Department is currently reviewing the operation of its conference centre with a view to maximising its availability for Departmental events.