§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the purpose of his return to the United Kingdom from the Indian sub-continent during Her Majesty the Queen's visit to Pakistan and India; and what was the cost of the travel involved. [23625]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 16 January 1998]: It was agreed with Buckingham Palace that I should accompany Her Majesty on her State Visits while she was in the capital cities of both countries and calling on members of their central governments. I was therefore in Islamabad on 7 and 8 October and in Delhi on 13 and 14 October, and not in attendance in the intervening period. It would not have been an effective use of the time of myself or my officials to stay on when I had no official business. These arrangements were agreed in July, long before the State Visit. The travel costs for myself and two officials for Pakistan were £4,211 and for India £11,547. On the outward journey to Pakistan we travelled on The Queen's aircraft.
§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the journeys overseas by the spouse or partner accompanying him since 1 May were in every case authorised in advance by the Prime Minister. [23572]
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he sought the permission of the Prime Minister in accordance with paragraph 69(a) of the Ministerial Code for Mrs. Gaynor Regan to accompany him on overseas visits at public expense. [23723]
435W
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he sought the Prime Minister's prior assent for each overseas visit made by Mrs. Gaynor Regan when accompanying him at public expense. [23382]
§ Mr. Robin Cook[holding answer 16 January 1998]: Yes, except when Ms Gaynor Regan accompanied me to Dublin on 3 November when there was no cost to public funds.