§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number and dates of the various committees of the Council of Europe, where they were held, who attended, and the hotel and travel expenses claimed and paid in each instance.
§ Mr. R. CarrDetails of meetings of Committees of the Council of Europe from 1st April, 1971, to 29th February, 1972, were set out in my predecessor's replies of 8th and 16th July, 1971, and 20th March, 1972, to the hon. Member. The following schedule gives details of meetings between 1st March and 31st May, 1972.
It has not been the practice of this House, nor would it be desirable, to divulge the details of claims made by individual Members.
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Date of meeting Venue Name of committee Names of members attending 21st March, 1972 Paris Leaders or Spokesmen of National Delegations and Chairmen of Political Groups Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys. 22nd March, 1972 Paris Political Affairs—Sub-Committee on Northern Ireland. W. P. Grieve. 22nd March, 1972 Paris Parliamentary and Public Relations. Rt. Hon. Ernest Fernyhough. D. Coleman, J. Scott-Hopkins. 5th April, 1972 Paris Agriculture J. Scott-Hopkins. 6th April, 1972 Paris Sub-Committee on Fisheries J. Scott-Hopkins. 10th April, 1972 Paris Legal Affairs P. Grieve, R. Maclennan, N. St. John-Stevas. 11th to 14th April 1972 Lausanne Science and Technology I. Lloyd, Dr. M. Miller, J. Scott-Hopkins J. Boyden. 17th April, 1972 Paris European Non-Member Countries. F. Judd, N. St. John-Stevas. Dr. J. D. Mabon. 17th April, 1972 Paris Population and Refugees D. Dodds-Parker J.Boyden 18th April, 1972 Paris Social and Health Questions Mrs. L. Jegar 19th April, 1972 Paris Social and Health Questions Sub-Committees on the European Code of Social Security and on the Fifth Seminar on International Voluntary Service. W. Molloy. 21st to 25th April 1972 Istanbul Political Affairs Sir John Rodgers, F. Judd, D. Dodds-Parker. 26th April, 1972 Paris Regional Planning and Local Authorities. Rt. Hon. Ernest Fernyhough, 28th April, 1972 Paris Economic Affairs and Development. Rt. Hon. George Darling, D. Marquand, Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams. 28th April, 1972 Paris Culture and Education J. Boyden. 5th to 7th May, 1972 Malta Parliamentary and Public Relations. Rt. Hon. Ernest Fernyhough, H. Rossi, D. Coleman. 15th to 19th May, 1972 Strasbourg First Part—Session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. Rt. Hon. Duncan Sandys, J. Boyden, D. Coleman, Rt. Hon. George Darling, S. W. Digby, W. P. Grieve, F. Judd, I. Lloyd, W. Molloy. J. Peel, Sir John Rodgers, H. Rossi, Rt. Hon. M. Stewart, D. Walters, A. Davidson, Rt. Hon. Ernest Fernyhough, Dame J. Vickers. J. Critchley, A. D. Dodds-Parker, Mrs. D. Fisher, J. E. B. Hill, A. Jones, S. B. Jones, D. Marquand, Sir Brandon Rhys-Williams, J. Scott-Hopkins, W. W. Small, D. Steel, F. Tomney, A. D. Walder, Rt. Hon. P. C. Gordon Walker.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give details of who will be attending the Council of Europe Committee on Culture and Education to be held in Vienna from 29th June to 5th July; what hotel and travel expenses have been claimed and by whom; and whether members are allowed to claim for double rooms at hotels and have the expenses for their wives or others who may accompany them to be met from public funds.
§ Mr. R. CarrFour Members—the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden), the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. John E. B. Hill), the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mr. Barry Jones) and the hon. Member for Hammersmith, North (Mr. Tomney)—are attending the meeting of the committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on Culture and Education being held in Vienna from 29th June to 5th July. The hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. R. C. Mitchell), who is not a member of the Committee on Culture and Education, has been invited to attend the conference which is being organised by the committee but will not be attending the Committee meeting itself.
Since no claims have yet been made, it is impossible to give figures for travel and hotel expenses paid. Members are paid a per diem allowance of 200 French francs and a miscellaneous expenses allowance of 50 French francs per day spent at Council of Europe meetings irrespective of what private arrangements they make. No additional claims may be made on behalf of Members' spouses or on behalf of anyone accompanying a Member.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council to what extent delegates attending committee meetings of the Council of Europe are entitled to stay on after the conclusion of the meetings and still claim hotel and other expenses for themselves and their wives for dates after the ending of the committee meetings.
§ Mr. R. CarrMembers are entitled to receive aper diem allowance of 200 French francs and a miscellaneous daily expenses allowance of 50 French francs for attendance at committee meetings of the Consultative Assembly of the Council 38W of Europe, irrespective of any private arrangements they may make. This entitlement commences on the arrival at the place of meeting of the latest appropriate flight or train and ends at the time of the earliest appropriate departing train or flight after the meeting. No additional allowance can be claimed for the attendance of Members' wives.