HC Deb 23 February 1970 vol 796 c223W
77. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he will make a statement concerning the misuse of public funds by persons either in or connected with his Department when operating as the Ministry of Power; and whether he will cause an independent inquiry to be made into this matter, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North;

(2) who, in his Department, gave approval for the visit to Dow Mill Colliery, near Coventry, by one of his civil servants, and why; what was the composition of the party; and for what special activities and at what cost the visit was organised.

Mr. Benn

This was to have been a private visit at no cost to public funds and did not require any authorisation.