News Release

8th November 2005

FOREIGN SECRETARY HELPS OUT LICHFIELD VISIT

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has stepped in to help Michael Fabricant who is planning a second visit to the United States for a group from the west midlands. The visit by around 30 people in late May next year will include a meeting and tea at the British Embassy in Washington DC with the Ambassador, Sir David Manning. He will provide an on the spot briefing of current issues affecting United Kingdom-United States relations and a tour of the impressive official Residence.

The 10 days visit which will include the sites in Washington and Virginia follows on from a successful visit two years ago to Litchfield in Connecticut. Michael says "Our alliance with the United States has its ups and downs but is enduring. The original Litchfield visit followed on from the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington and demonstrated our solidarity with our friends across the ocean. At the time, we met my US counterpart, Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, who represents Litchfield in Washington. Having met her in Litchfield, we hope to meet her again at the House of Representatives, their 'House of Commons', in the nation's capital. We will also be visiting a number of historic sites, enjoying some good meals together, and I hope having a good time as we did on the last occasion."