Yvette Cooper’s reply to Norman Baker’s Parliamentary Question (Commons Hansard, 15 December 2003) makes it quite clear that, at the time of his meeting with Derek Chapman, Mr Prescott was unaware that he was a Director of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.

This is the relevant passage from Hansard:-

 15 Dec 2003 : Column 744W—continued

Brighton and Hove Albion

 Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which directors of Brighton and Hove Albion football club (a) he has and (b) other Ministers in his Department have met since 1 January 2002; and if he will make a statement. [142431]

 Yvette Cooper: Pursuant to my answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 342W, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met Derek Chapman, Managing Director of Adenstar Construction Group, when he opened Adenstar's new offices in Portslade, Hove on 13 May 2003. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, was not made aware until last week that Mr. Chapman was a Director of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

Correcting extract: Hansard 9th January 2006:

 Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for (a) 13 May 2003 and (b) 16 December 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister had a number of routine departmental meetings in his London office on 13 May 2003. Due to an administrative error, a previous parliamentary response to the hon. Member of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 744W, indicated that he was on a regional visit in Hove on this date. This in fact took place one year earlier, on 13 May 2002. On 16 December 2005, he was on a regional visit to Portsmouth, Worthing and Brighton