§ Mrs. McGuireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent for(a) official foreign travel and (b) incidentals on the (i) spouses and (ii) partners of the previous two Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in each year of their tenure. [26316]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[pursuant to his reply, 29 January 1998, c. 389–90]: Owing to an administrative error, the figures given in the first answer to my hon. Friend were incorrect.
Mrs. Rifkind did not attend the EU Informal Foreign Minister's Meeting in Tralee 6–8 September 1996 due to ill health.
The cost of Mrs. Rifkind's visit to Switzerland (Davos) for the World Economic Forum, 31 January - 2 February 1997 was £846.64 and not £4,405.00 as previously stated.
A revised table is printed below. 547W
Dates Minister Venue Purpose of visit Spouse cost including travel and incidentals (£) 1997 31 January-2 February Sir Malcolm Rifkind Switzerland (Davos) World Economic Forum 846.64 15–16 March Sir Malcolm Rifkind Netherlands (Apledoorn) EU Informal Foreign Ministers Meeting 848.48 Total 1,695.12