HC Deb 16 January 1998 vol 304 cc347-9W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on his visit to Disney World earlier in January. [23226]

Mr. Mandelson

Walt Disney are world leaders in entertainment. I went to learn at first hand from their wide experience, as suggested by the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport. I had extensive discussions on technical matters, managing the flow of visitors, service facilities, and other aspects of this highly successful public attraction.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what was the cost to public funds of his visit to Disney World in Orlando. [23920]

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what was the cost of his trip to Florida, including the travel and accommodation costs of accompanying staff. [23481]

Mr. Mandelson

The cost of my trip to the United States was approximately £3,450, including the travel and accommodation costs of an accompanying official from the British Consulate General in Miami.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if, and at what cost, he was accompanied to Disney World by Civil Service staff. [23922]

Mr. Spring

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many(a) civil servants and (b) special advisers accompanied him to Disney World; what was the estimated cost of their visit; and what was their schedule of appointments at Disney World. [23925]

Mr. Mandelson

One civil servant from the British Consulate General in Miami accompanied me on my appointments at Disney World. The cost of his travel and accommodation was approximately £307.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what was the cost to public funds of his recent visit to the United States of America; and what part of his visit was for private purposes. [23923]

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Minister without Portfolio how many days he spent in the United States of America on his recent trip; and how many of these were working days. [23480]

Mr. Mandelson

I spent four days in the United States of America. I undertook an official programme on all these days, following a private overnight stay on arrival.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Minister without Portfolio for what reasons he chose to visit Disney World Florida rather than Disney Land Paris; and what was the extra cost of visiting Florida compared with a visit to Paris for the same purpose. [23476]

Mr. Mandelson

I wanted, in particular, to have the opportunity of visiting the Epcot (Educational Prototype Community of Tomorrow) Centre; and was also able to fit in a short programme in Washington arranged for me via the British Embassy. A direct cost comparison is not therefore relevant in this case.

Mr. Spring

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list the dates of his visit to the United States of America separately identifying the date of his visit to Disney World; and if he will provide a breakdown of his appointments at Disney World. [23931]

Mr. Mandelson

I visited the United States of America on an official programme from 2 to 5 January 1998. On 2 and 3 January I held a series of meetings at Epcot (the Educational Prototype Community of Tomorrow) with Judson Green (President, Walt Disney Attractions), George Kalogridis (Vice President Epcot Operations), Robin Chapman (Director Creative Development Epcot), and Danni Mikler (Manager Epcot International Programmes).