BUSINESS leaders appear to have snubbed the Confederation of Business Industry's annual conference, with only three chief executives from FTSE 100 companies set to attend this week's event.
However, a team of government officials is due to attend at a cost of £14,000 to the taxpayer.
The CBI conference was set to start in London today and speakers at the two-day event include Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chancellor Gordon Brown and th
e Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling.
Yet only 19 companies in the FTSE 350 will be represented, with public-relations executives and middle managers making up most of these. And of the country's top ranked chief executives, only Gareth Davis of Imperial Tobacco, Gerry Murphy of B&Q owners Kingfisher and Mike Clasper of BAA are attending the event.
Two chairmen of FTSE 100 firms are also set to attend, with Sir John Egan of Severn Trent and Dick Olver of BAE Systems scheduled to put in an appearance. This is the first time the event has been held in London and the CBI had hoped the move would allow busy chief executives to "drop-in".
But the Department of Trade and Industry is sending 38 ministers and officials to the event, including 20 delegates who are attending at a cost to the taxpayer of almost £14,000. A spokeswoman said: "It is entirely appropriate given the relationship between the CBI and the DTI. They are there to listen, learn and discuss."
