§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants, and of what rank, have made official visits abroad in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThis information is not available centrally, and could only be collected at disproportionate cost. The detailed control of overseas and other travel by civil servants lies with individual Departments; my Department controls the aggregate level of expenditure on travel and subsistence and it is only that figure which is recorded centrally. The mode of all travel, including that overseas, and the reimbursement of costs to staff is, however, covered by rules promulgated by my Department. In addition, authorisation and control of overseas travel is dealt with at an appropriately high level in each department.