Pizzas galore!

Although Mr Allen is no longer directly involved in the management of Microsoft, he remains its second biggest shareholder. There is no suggestion that Mr Mandelson has broken the Commission’s code of conduct.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Allen refused to comment on whether he and Mr Mandelson discussed business during their brief encounter.

“We would not comment on who meets with Paul Allen,” said Michael Nank, spokesman for Vulcan, the company the billionaire set up before leaving Microsoft.

TAKEN TO TASK

The European Commission ruled last year that Microsoft had broken EU competition rules by abusing its dominant position. It levied a €497.2 million fine and called for measures to restore competition to the market.

If the Commission’s competition department thinks that Microsoft has not complied, the matter will be handed to all 25 Commissioners, including Mr Mandelson, to decide on further sanctions.

PLAYGROUND FOR THE RICH

ST BARTHELÉMY is a secluded Caribbean island of 8 sq miles, 125 miles from Guadeloupe, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and named after his brother, Bartolomeo.

It has a population of 7,100 and has for decades been a playground for the wealthy, with luxurious accommodation and glorious beaches.

In the past decade it has become increasingly popular with film stars such as Sylvester Stallone and Uma Thurman, and businessmen including Bill Gates and Paul Allen, of Microsoft.

The Rothschild family owns a villa, as does David Letterman, the American television interviewer.

There is an annual New Year regatta, in which 350 vessels took part this year.

St Barthelémy was colonised by the French in 1648. In 1694 they tried again, the original settlers having been wiped out by Carib Indians. Britain seized it briefly in 1758; in 1784 it was handed to Sweden; and in 1877 it returned to France.

Known as St Bart’s, it is part of the Leeward Islands. French is the first language, the euro the currency and tourism the prime industry, with more than 100,000 visitors annually.

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