British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has apologised for putting his hand on a female journalist's knee at an event 15 years ago.
The incident involved radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer, who says she does not regard it as "anything but mildly amusing".
A spokesman for Mr Fallon said: "Julia and he now considered the matter closed."
Before the Defence Secretary was named last weekend, Ms Hartley-Brewer tweeted: "I have spoken previously about a Cabinet Minister who repeatedly put his hand on my knee during a party conference dinner.
"I calmly and politely explained to him that if he did it again I would 'punch him in the face'. He withdrew his hand and that was the end of the matter."
This "incident" happened in 2002. No one was remotely upset or distressed by it. My knees remain intact. I refer you to my earlier statement pic.twitter.com/TWTj0nnsWb
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) October 30, 2017
Ms Hartley-Brewer also tweeted: "This 'incident' happened in 2002. No one was remotely upset or distressed by it. My knees remain intact."
The matter came to light as parliamentary authorities draw up plans to allow victims of sexual harassment to report incidents "without fear", as allegations of harassment continue to dominate Westminster.
In the latest set of allegations about MPs' conduct, the Daily Telegraph reported that an unnamed Minister's "inappropriate" actions forced two female staff members to move to other jobs.
Yesterday, the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, told MPs that ministers would be sacked for inappropriate behaviour, saying: "If people are made to feel uncomfortable, that is not correct."
"In terms of the consequences for the perpetrators, I think I've also been perfectly clear that in the case of staff they could forfeit their jobs, in the case of members of parliament they could have the whip withdrawn and they could be fired from ministerial office."
Ms Leadsom is pressing the case for the establishment of a new external, specially-trained support team to offer confidential advice and support to anyone suffering from sexual harassment at Westminster.
The move came as a Cabinet Office investigation got under way into alleged misconduct by international trade minister Mark Garnier, who is reported to have asked his Commons secretary to buy sex toys and addressed her by inappropriate names.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Theresa May declined to confirm that she has full confidence in Mr Garnier, saying he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of the inquiry.
Mr Garnier has insisted that the incidents did not amount to harassment and described the purchase of the sex toys as an instance of "high jinks".
Meanwhile, former Conservative junior minister Edwina Currie has said people need to learn how to reject advances at work "without upsetting people".
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Currie said it should be acceptable for people to "make a pass" at work and people had to learn how to deal with it appropriately.
She said: "This is an attempt to shame all sorts of people who have done absolutely nothing wrong.
"The workplace, these days, is where people meet. It's where many romances and liaisons get developed. You can't ban it from the workplace."
