HC Deb 26 May 1954 vol 528 cc32-3W
Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to provide a list of the main categories of visitors to and from Germany during the past year whose visits were officially sponsored and financed in part or whole from the £47,000 provided for in the 1953–54 Estimates for sponsored visitors to and from Germany; and what expenditure was incurred during the same period in respect of sponsored visitors to and from other Western European countries, including France.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Officially sponsored visitors from Germany financed in part or whole during the financial year 1953–54 from the sum referred to fall into the following categories:

(a) Prominent figures in Federal and Land Governments.

(b) Educationists, including university professors and youth leaders.

(c) Journalists.

(d) Local government elected representatives and officials.

(e) Civil servants.

(f) Trade unionists.

(2) Sponsored visitors to Germany included:

(a) Educationists, including university professors.

(b) Local government elected representatives and officials.

(c) Members of Parliament.

(d) Churchmen.

3. As regards the second part of the Question, the expenditure on sponsored visitors to and from European countries other than Germany was approximately £20,700, exclusive of staff costs. This expenditure was divided between the Foreign Office, C.O.I. and British Council. It does not cover the 253 visitors whose visits to this country were sponsored by the British Council but without cost to public funds; nor does it include visits in either direction under the Council's university interchange scheme.