§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost incurred by his predecessor in the financial year 1996–97 for the use of RAF and chartered aircraft. [69379]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The total cost incurred by my predecessor in the financial year 1996–97 for the use of RAF and chartered aircraft was £233,872. This is part of the total expenditure of £7.8 million on overseas visits by Ministers under the previous Administration for 1996–97 and compares with expenditure of £6.1 million by this Government in the year 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Prime Minister how many of the people listed in his answer of 19 November 1998,Official Report, columns 743–44, as accompanying him to Washington in February 1998 were (a) ministers, (b) permanent career civil servants, (c) temporary civil servants, special advisers and political appointees, (d) journalists paying their own fares, (e) businessmen paying their own fares and (f) others. [70233]
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§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 9 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) on 13 March 1998, Official Report, columns 366–67. No journalists or businessmen accompanied me on the visit. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) on 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 283–84.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Prime Minister how many of the people listed in his answer of 19 November 1998,Official Report, columns 743–44, as accompanying him to the G7 summit and UN General Assembly in June 1997 were (a) ministers, (b) permanent career civil servants, (c) temporary civil servants, special advisers and political appointees, (d) journalists paying their own fares, (e) businessmen paying their own fares and (f) others. [70232]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 9 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 4 July 1997, Official Report, column 293. Seventeen journalists accompanied me on the visit and paid their own fares. No businessmen attended.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) on 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 283–84.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Prime Minister how many of the people listed in his answer of 19 November 1998,Official Report, columns 743–44, as accompanying him to Japan in January 1998 were (a) ministers, (b) permanent career civil servants, (c) temporary civil servants, special advisers and political appointees, (d) journalists paying their own fares, (e) businessmen paying their own fares and (f) others. [70234]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 9 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 17 February 1998, Official Report, columns 523–24. Nineteen journalists accompanied me on the visit and paid their own fares.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Illsley) on 10 February 1999, Official Report, columns 283–84.
§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Prime Minister when he plans to provide a substantive answer to the question from the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton of 25 January 1999, regarding ministerial Concorde flights (Ref. 67984). [71190]
§ The Prime MinisterI did so on 10 February 1999,Official Report, column 283.