§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions when his(a) Chief of Staff and (b) Chief Press Secretary formed part of the official party accompanying him on overseas visits, indicating the costs; and if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 143, to include the period from the end of October 1998 to the end of February 1999. [76816]
§ The Prime MinisterMy Chief Press Secretary has accompanied me on all my overseas visits except three. My Chief of Staff has accompanied me on approximately a third. The costs of all officials, including my Chief Press Secretary and Chief of Staff, who accompany me on overseas visits are accounted for within the total costs of my overseas visits provided in previous answers.
For the period 1 May 1997 to 3 March 1999, members of the policy unit have travelled overseas on official business on 44 occasions. The average cost of their official travel was approximately £600 per person.
All visits have been made in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code.