HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 cc674-5W
Mr. Keith Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the overseas trips on his behalf. and who met the costs, undertaken by each of his special advisers since May 1997. [74641]

Mr. George Robertson

[holding answer 4 March 1999]: Overseas visits (on my behalf) undertaken by my two special advisers since 1 May 1997 are as listed. The costs of these visits were met as appropriate either from my travel budget or from that of the senior official or military officer whom the special adviser was accompanying. In most cases travel was by military flight.

  • Alasdair McGowan
  • 2–3 June 1997 Washington accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
  • 30 June–1 July 1997 Bosnia accompanying Chief of the General Staff
  • 5–9 October 1998 Cyprus accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
  • 27–28 October 1998 Bosnia accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
  • Bernard Gray
    • 30 September–1 October 1997 Maastricht accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 2–3 December 1997 Brussels—NATO Ministerial—accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 13 March 1998 Cyprus one visit—accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 14–16 March 1998 Saudi Arabia one visit—accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 2 April 1998 Munich—DASA Meeting—Defence Industry Restructuring
    • 8 April 1998 Villacoublay, France—talks with French MOD—accompanying Chief of Defence Procurement
    • 20 April 1998 France—talks with French MOD—accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
      • 675
    • 10–11 June 1998 Brussels accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 18 September 1998 France accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 23–25 September 1998 Portugal—NATO Informals—accompanying Secretary of State
    • 21 October 1998 Munich—DASA Meeting—accompanying Chief of Defence Procurement
    • 17–20 November 1998 USA accompanying Secretary of State for Defence
    • 5–7 January 1999 Bosnia accompanying Chief of the Defence Staff
    • 31 January–2 February 1999 Macedonia accompanying Chief of the defence Staff
    • 4–5 March 1999 USA—Defence Industry Restructuring—accompanying Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement (Support).