To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have made payments to Caparo Group or its subsidiaries since 1997. (141917)

None of the Chancellor’s Departments or their agencies has found any records of payments to Caparo Group or its known subsidiaries within the last five years. Changes in accounting systems mean that a positive confirmation for all bodies over the whole period since 1997 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.