To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many planned visits by Ministers in his Department within the UK were cancelled within 72 hours of the visit taking place in the last 12 months; and what the planned venue or venues were for each such visit. (309877)

The information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers make every effort to fulfil engagements, but occasionally it may be necessary for business reasons to make changes at shorter notice than we would prefer. In those situations we always seek to minimise the inconvenience caused.