§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) date, (b) location and (c) purpose was of visits by Ministers in his Department to Wales since 1997; and when he next intends to visit Wales. [62078]
§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 17 June 2002]: Since 1999 this Government have published an annual list of all visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. This Government have also published, on an annual basis, the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Information in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State (Alistair Darling) visited Swansea and Bridgend on the 12 February 2002, where he visited one of our new Pension Centres and a Jobcentreplus Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Andrew Smith) has no immediate plans to visit Wales, however my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Malcolm Wicks) is planning to visit Wales in the next month.