§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many overseas visitors have received grade I, II and III hospitality from the Central Office of Information in each of the last 10 years;
(2) how many grade I, II and III visitors have been sponsored from overseas in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
During the last 10 financial years the number of visitors to the United Kingdom in each of the three categories of the sponsored visitors scheme has been as follows:
Categories I II III 1973–74 439 808 2,489 1974–75 389 630 2,572 1975–76 380 507 2,439 1976–77 236 460 2,036 1977–78 228 359 2,672 1978–79 282 507 1,481 1979–80 236 512 1,671 1980–81 283 442 779 1981–82 354 384 574 1982–83 323 367 593
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of Central Office of Information staff costs and administrative expenses is attributable to the overseas visitors programme.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
The proportion is currently 8 per cent.
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current average cost of an official overseas visitor in grade I, II and III categories.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
The current average daily operational cost of a visitor in category I is £148; in category II it is £98 and in category III £19.50. Figures for the average total cost per visitor this financial year are not yet available. However, last year the figures were £2,100 per visitor in category I; £660 per visitor in category II; and £70 per visitor in category III.
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average cost of overnight accommodation provided for grade I, II and III official overseas visitors.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
The cost of overnight accommodation varies considerably according to the status of the visitor. No payment is incurred for visitors in category III. The average cost of overnight accommodation for visitors in categories I and II is £59.
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the recipients of Central Office of Information grades I and II hospitality during 1983.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
224WDuring the calendar year 1983, there were 337 visitors under category I terms and 450 under category II. It will take some time to prepare a full list of names but this will be published in the Official Report as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Fallonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of hospitality provided by the Central Office of Information for grades I, II and III visitors in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
The operational cost of the sponsored visitors scheme during each of the last eight financial years is as follows. Figures for earlier years are no longer available. A breakdown relating to separate categories over the whole eight-year period is not available.
£ 1975–76 393,070 1976–77 340,350 1977–78 348,350 1978–79 442,900 1979–80 524,350 1980–81 617,000 1981–82 690,620 1982–83 732,068