HL Deb 29 January 2003 vol 643 cc167-8WA
Lord Dubs

asked the Leader of the House:

Further to his Written Answer on 28 May 2002 (WA 146) whether the Senior Salaries Review Body has recommended a new allowance in the House of Lords to allow Members of the House a set number of visits a year to either European Union institutions or the national parliaments of member states and applicant countries to the European Union. [HL1392]

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

I have been in correspondence with the Senior Salaries Review Body on this matter.

On 23 January it recommended a new allowance which will enable Members of the House of Lords to claim reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses for up to two return visits per annum on parliamentary business to European institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg and to the national parliaments of EU member states or EU candidate countries.

This allowance will be similar to that available to Members of the House of Commons following the Resolution of that House on 9 May 2002. As in the House of Commons, approval for any such visit will need to be sought from the House authorities in advance.

I will table a motion for a Resolution of the House to authorise this new allowance in the next few weeks.