To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2008, Official Report, columns 1109-10W, on the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, on which dates in each of the last five years senior officials have represented Ministers at the Council; and on which of these occasions Ministers were unable to attend owing to parliamentary commitments. (221391)

Under each presidency for the European Union, Ministers for Health from the 27 member states are invited to attend the Employment, Social Policy, Consumer Affairs and Health Council (EPSCO). From the period of 2003-08, there were two occasions where senior officials have represented Ministers at the EPSCO Council:

30 to 31 May 2007—Anne Lambert, Deputy Permanent Representative for UKRep; and

9 to 10 June 2008—Andy Lebrecht Deputy Permanent Representative for UKRep