Labour minister 'in Middle East pushing for peace' was at jazz club

Hamish Falconer attended lunch at Ronnie Scott's in Soho , less than two miles from Parliament .

Foreign Office source said Mr Falconer was flying back from Turkish capital Ankara yesterday morning .

He was unable to answer an urgent question on Gaza because he was 'in the region pushing for a peace deal' Catherine West , the Indo-Pacific minister, told MPs he could not answer the question as he was in the Middle East ' pushing for peace' Green MP Ellie Chowns raised a point of order in Commons today to 'seek clarification'.

He added: 'The UK and Turkey are committed to working together to support Syria 's transition to an inclusive and peaceful country.' There was another urgent question and two Government statements in the Commons yesterday , all of which followed the urgent question on Gaza . A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'Due to ministerial travel, Minister West covered Parliamentary business for Foreign Office issues relating to the Middle East on Tuesday . 'Minister Falconer landed from Ankara at 11:45 and would not have been able to attend the urgent question at 12:30 .'.