§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the results of his watch on Ministerial visits overseas; to what extent, compared with the previous 12 months, these visits have been reduced in numbers and costs; and whether he will publish in HANSARD details of the savings made since October, 1964.
§ The Prime MinisterI regret that this information could only be obtained at a disproportionate expenditure of time and money; moreover, even if it were available, no meaningful comparisons could be made as circumstances requiring Ministerial visits overseas vary from year to year. I can, however, assure my hon. Friend that all proposals for Ministerial travel abroad at public expense are carefully scrutinised and the number of such visits is kept to the minimum consistent with our Commonwealth and international commitments.