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From porcelain to pens: curious world of ministers' gifts revealed

John "two jags" Prescott has emerged as "Two Brooches" Prescott. That most macho of government ministers has been the beneficiary of a glittering array of jewellery, according to an official list of government gifts published yesterday.

The Deputy Prime Minister has received the two brooches – one from the Japanese conglomerate Marubeni, another from a company called Evergreen – as well as a necklace, cufflinks and a tie stud. The former ship's steward was also given a model ship to evoke his days at sea before he swapped them for the choppier waters of government.

Tony Blair has also been regularly reminded of his pre-political career – as a guitarist with the student band Ugly Rumours. The Prime Minister has received not one, but four guitars in the past year and a half – including one from the Canadian musician Bryan Adams.

President Vicente Fox of Mexico gave Mr Blair an expensive guitar in August 2001. Fender Musical Instruments, which has kitted out many of the world's leading rock bands, gave him an electric version in January 2002. Adams followed in July and, earlier this month, the government of Romania gave him his fourth.

But government rules, which say that no gift worth more than £140 can be kept by a minister, mean that Mr Blair's guitars are kept under lock and key in No 10. The Prescott jewels are also under tight security in his newly renovated Whitehall offices.

The first official list of dozens of gifts given to ministers from heads of state, political admirers and foreign governments revealed a bizarre array of presents, including a dressing gown, a nativity scene from Yasser Arafat and several daggers from Arab states.

The disclosure follows the publication of a critical report earlier this week about the Royal Family's handling of its presents. The report found that the Prince of Wales had personally benefited from the sale of gifts, including official ones.

The Government has itself been criticised for failing to publish details of gifts received during its first term of office, including presents from the Indian Hinduja brothers.

Questions have also been asked by MPs about why an "arbitrary" £140 limit had been imposed. Ministers can keep all gifts worth less, and have no duty to make them public.

President Chirac of France gave the Prime Minister two half cases of wine, and a £500 pen, before relations between them became frosty. Tony Blair liked the pen so much he paid to keep it. Tony Wright, chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee, said: "Now that we know about the gifts from Chirac I can quite see why disclosure would cause political embarrassment."

The list reveals that Mr Blair has also paid to keep a wooden screen given to him by General Musharraf, the leader of Pakistan, a 12-piece dinner service bestowed by the government of Bangladesh, and two Head brand tennis rackets.

Gordon Brown lists two gifts since the last election, including a coin from the Dutch government and a Palm Pilot from the Belgian EU presidency.

The parliamentary ombudsman, Ann Abraham, is expected to call for more transparency on gifts when she publishes a report on the matter shortly. Under the rules, the Government does not disclose how much gifts are worth. But her report may force Mr Blair to be far more open on the number of presents he has received – and their true value.

Presents For The Powerful

Geoff Hoon, Defence Secretary

Table decoration (Bahrain)

Silver eagle (Albania)

Mont Blanc pen (General Dynamics)

Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary

Bowl (US)

Small pot and bowl (Greece)

Coffee pot (Bahrain)

Nativity scene (Yasser Arafat)

Lord Goldsmith, Attorney General

Watch, rabbit, ornament, candlestick holders, necklace (Chinese delegation)

Harriet Harman, Solicitor General

Plate (Qatar)

Lord Irvine Of Lairg, Lord Chancellor

Porcelain tea set (Hungary)

Card holder (Poland)

John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister

Brooch, camera, model ship (Evergreen)

Brooch (Marubeni)

Necklace, cufflinks, tie stud (Mitsubishi)

Tony Blair, Prime Minister

Watch (Bahrain)

Dressing gown (G8 Summit)

Coat (Italy)

Fountain pen (President Chirac of France)

Dagger (Sultan of Oman)

Coffee pot (Government of Oman)

Necklace and bracelet (Italy)

Guitar (Bryan Adams)

Necklace (Chief Minister of Hyderabad)

Half a case of wine (France)

Guitar (Romania)

Guitar (President Fox of Mexico)

Gordon Brown, Chancellor

Historic coin (Netherlands)

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