§ 31. Mr. Tebbitasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs to public funds, and the cash value of benefits, derived from his visits abroad during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. LeverI have made one official visit abroad in the past 12 months, at a cost to public funds of £250. The cash value of the benefits derived from this visit is inestimable.
§ Mr. TebbitWe are not surprised that the right hon. Gentleman prefers not to put a cash value upon the benefits which have accrued to the taxpayer. Will he say whether on these trips abroad, or, indeed, at home, he still stands by the remarks he made in the television interview with Mr. Brian Walden in January, namely, that the higher rates of taxation in the United Kingdom should be reduced as a matter of urgency and high priority in the economic interests of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. LeverI have no difficulty whatever in confirming the wisdom of those remarks and the accuracy with which the hon. Gentleman has quoted them.
§ Mr. AdleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as he is generally regarded in this country and, I am sure, wherever he travels as a civilised, witty and intelligent human being—in contradistinction to most of his Government colleagues—it might be a good thing if he travelled a bit more and others of his right hon. Friends travelled a bit less?
§ Mr. LeverAlthough that comment is obviously courteously intended, it could be taken in more than one way. Any welcome given to my absences, or the suggestion that they should be further increased, has to be considered with great care.