§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he selected the Gleneagles Hotel as the venue of the weekend break from the Commonwealth Conference; what was the cost of the hotel and allied expenses; what was the cost of travel; and when these bills are expected to be submitted and paid.
§ Mr. LuardGleneagles Hotel was chosen for this weekend because after an examination of a number of alternatives it alone was found to offer the facilities to accommodate more than 30 Heads of Government in the conditions of privacy needed to provide the relaxed and informal character which this weekend, like those organised at the two previous meetings, was intended to have. As on those occasions at Mont Tremblant in Canada in 1973 and at Tryall Estate on the North Coast of Jamaica in 1975, the discussions which were held at Gleneagles contributed greatly to the successful outcome of this Commonwealth meeting.
The weekend is expected to cost about £50,000, of which travelling expenses should account for about £10,000. The exact cost should be known before the end of July, by which time all the bills should have been presented and paid.