HC Deb 17 March 1978 vol 946 cc364-8W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, how many overseas visits he has made, to which countries and for what purposes the visits were made, with what results were achieved, who accompanied him; and what was the actual or estimated costs of these visits.

Mr. Tomlinson

The following table shows the 35 overseas visits my right hon. Friend has made since taking office in February last year. Details are given of the purpose of each visit, the numbers of staff who accompanied him and the cost. The aim of each visit, whether concerned with an international meeting or bilateral talks, was to further the Government's foreign policy.

SECRETARY OF STATE'S OVERSEAS VlSITS
Date Country Accompanied by Purpose Cost
1977
25th-26th February France Mrs. Own and 5 officials Bilateral visit 1,421.75
7th-8th March Belgium 2 ministers, 10 officials EEC 739.92
9th-14th March USA, Canada Mrs. Owen and 16 FCO officials and administrative staff. Accompanying the Prime Minister on a bilateral visit. 23,673.08
25th-26th March Italy 15 FCO officials and administrative staff European Counci 3,998.73
5th April Luxemourg 2 ministers 5 officials EEC 1,062.32
10th-18th April Southern Africa Mrs. Owen and 14 officials and administrative staff Rhodesia talks 43,408.81
20th April France 1 minister, 7 officials EEC 1,265.38
24th-28th April Egypt, Syria 10 officials and administrative staff Bilateral visit 12,883.98
2nd-3rd May Belgium 2 ministers, 7 officials EEC 384.16
11th-15th May Saudi Arabia, Iran Mrs. Owen and 14 officials and administrative staff. Bilateral visit 18,735.91
24th May Brussels 3 officials International Press Association address. 653.00
30th May-2nd June France 11 officials and administrative staff CIEC 2,904.13
20th-21st June Luxemboug 1 minister, 6 officials EEC 626.61
23rd-24th June France 8 officials OECD 2,600.29
12th July Belgium 7 officials EEC 1,002.00
22nd-24th July USA 4 officials Bilateral visit 4,631.31
26th July Belgium 1 minister, 6 officials EEC 580.29
25th August-2nd September Southern Africa 15 officials and administrative staff Rhodesia talks 46,335.67
5th-7th September Spain Mrs. Owen and 5 officials Bilateral visit 2,880.00
20th September Belgium 1 minister, 6 officials EEC 645.81
24th-30th September USA 11 officials and administrative staff UNGA 9,893.62
9th-11th October USSR 13 officials and administrative staff Bilateral visit 9,036.85
18th October FRG 3 FCO officials Bilateral (PM's visit) 2,155.00
21st-22nd November Belgium 1 minister, 8 officials EEC 1,229.23
23–24th November France 1 minister, 5 officials Council of Europe 1,893.13
5th-6th December Belgium 8 FCO officials and administrative staff European Council 1,348.38

Date Country Accompanied by Purpose Cost
1978
17th January Belgium 1 minister, 6 officials EEC 1,047.04
29th January-1st February Malta 25 officials and administrative staff Rhodesia talks 9,415.72
7th February Belgium 1 minister, 7 officials EEC 1,240.54
10th-12th February USA 8 officials UN talks on Namibia 5,947.70
13th-14th February Denmark 8 officials EEC 2,000.00 approx.
24th-28th February Jordan, Israel Mrs. Owen and 10 officials and administrative staff, 1 MP. Bilateral visit 18,770.00 approx.
7th March Belgium 1 minister, 4 officials EEC 964.48 approx.
8th-9th March USA 7 officials Rhodesia talks 8,500.00 approx.
15th March France 1 minister, 4 officials Gibraltar talks 800.00 approx.

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