To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the stakeholders being consulted about the commemorations planned for the 25^th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict. (100669)

The list of stakeholders being consulted by the Department about the Falklands 25 commemorations is extensive and continues to grow. To date it has included:

The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations;

South Atlantic Medal Association 82;

HM Ship, regimental and squadron associations;

Merchant Navy Association;

Trustees of FI Memorial Chapel Pangbourne;

Falklands Families Association;

Buckingham Palace Staff and other Royal Households;

Foreign and Commonwealth Office;

Archbishop of Canterbury’s Office;

Baroness Thatcher’s office;

Falkland Islands Government;

British Broadcast Corporation;

Corporation of London;

Metropolitan and City of London Police;

Vulcan to the Sky project;

Royal Parks;

Civil Aviation Authority;

Chamber of Shipping;

Westminster City Council;

Pangbourne College;

Falklands Defence Force;

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that the whole House has ownership of the commemoration of the 25^th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict, as urged by the then Under-Secretary of State in his answer on 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 11; and which Opposition hon. Members have been consulted. (100671)

It is my intention to keep the House fully informed about our plans for the Falklands 25 commemorations and I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 16 November 2006, Official Report, column 2WS; a further update will be provided to the House early next year. I hope that Members from all parties will apply, via the Speaker’s Office, to participate in the event planned on Horse Guards Parade on 17 June 2007.

I would be happy to meet with opposition defence spokesmen to discuss the commemorations in more detail if that would be helpful.