Well, the Department of Foreign Whatnot has sent me the usual stonewalling bumph. Which was entirely expected, of course, but it looks better to be able to say "I've contacted the Department" when bugging the Minister directly.
The Minister, hoping I'll go away, has
fled the country ;)
He'll be back in a week or so. At which point I can start being ever-so polite and concerned in his general direction.