To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to Table 26 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 for Advantage West Midlands, what the nature was of the related party transaction made to (a) the Liberal Democrats, as declared by Ms Diane Rayner and (b) the Labour Party, as declared by Mr. Gerard Coyne. (274341)

In 2006, the agency paid £10,000 for exhibition space, and room hire at the Labour party conference in Manchester. In addition, payments of £200 were made to the Labour party for two-day passes to the conference. Mr. Gerard Coyne is a member of the Labour party and this therefore qualifies as a related party transaction.

No payments were made to the Liberal Democrats in 2006 and therefore no disclosure was made by Ms Diane Rayner in that period.

The Related Party Transaction disclosure documents the level of financing that AWM has provided directly to organisations that board members have an interest in, as declared in their register of interests. The individual is considered to have an interest in the transaction only inasmuch as they have a relationship with both AWM and the organisation in question.