HC Deb 01 April 1957 vol 568 c10W
102. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the purpose of the recent State visit to Portugal; and what was the cost.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The purpose of Her Majesty's State Visit to Portugal, which was made in response to an invitation from the President of the Portuguese Republic, was to return the State Visit which the President paid to this country in 1955 and to demonstrate and reaffirm the cordiality of the relations existing between this country and Portugal and the enduring quality of the ancient alliance between them.

Deails of the costs falling on the Votes for which I am responsible are not yet available, but these are not likely to be heavy.