To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) he and (b) his officials had meetings with lobbyists representing the interests of defence contractors over the last 12 months. (174789)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 1 February 2008, Official Report, column 702W, for a list of events organised by the Defence Manufacturers Association which MOD Ministers have attended in the last 12 months.

Records show that no MOD Ministers have met other independent lobbyists representing the interests of defence contractors over the past 12 months. Records for meetings held by MOD officials are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.