§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of official journeys to Bradford made by the hon. Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) during 1990 and the current year to the most recent practicable date and the total cost of rail fares for himself and civil servants together with the associated costs of meals and any other expenses.
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§ Mr. EggarThe Government have a strong commitment to promoting inner city regeneration. As Minister with special responsibility for Bradford and Leeds, it is invaluable for me to maintain personal contact with those involved in this vital process—including both Bradford city council and important private sector and partnership bodies such as the Bradford chamber of commerce, the Bradford and District training and enterprise council, the Bradford Breakthrough and the Keighley business forum, not to mention the many voluntary sector and community groups which are contributing to the development of new initiative and new partnerships in the district.
My many and frequent contacts with local people are also invaluable in steering the work of the Bradford and Leeds city action team and the Bradford task force which between them invest over £1.5 million a year in the city—and which seek to co-ordinate the impact of central Government programmes especially in the fields of environment, employment, training and enterprise. There is no substitute for seeing things personally and learning at first hand.
Since July 1990, when I became Minister of State, I have made 11 official visits to Bradford, nine by train. From the records currently available the total cost for myself and civil servants is as follows:
£ a) Rail fares 1,692.58 b) Associated costs 285.85