§ Q2. Sir C. Osborneasked the Prime Minister how many Ministers and Members of the House were summoned to the United Kingdom from duty abroad at public expense on 13th to 15th June, 1966, and for what reasons; and what was the total cost.
§ The Prime MinisterNo Ministers, Sir, but six Members of the Parliamentary delegation to the Western European Union meeting in Paris, returned at their own request a little earlier than had previously been planned. Since they did not return to Paris at public expense, no additional cost fell on public funds as a result of this.
§ Sir C. OsborneWhile thanking the Prime Minister for that assurance, may I ask him if it was not rather hard on some of his younger colleagues to bring them home merely to vote, when he has a majority of 100 at his disposal?
§ The Prime MinisterWe did not bring anyone home, except those who asked to be brought home. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that in May of last year, when we offered pairs to all the Council of Europe delegates on the other side of the House, the Conservative leaders insisted on bringing them home from Strasbourg to vote in the steel nationalisation debate.