§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign visitors were taken on tours of the country outside London at public expense over the last convenient date; and how many of these tours included visits to each of Oxford, Stratford on Avon, Edinburgh, and the Lake District.
§ Mr. Luard, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th January 1977, Vol. 924, c. 75–6], gave the following information:
Of the 624 foreign visitors for whose expenses my right hon. Friend's Department was responsible during the period from 1st April to 31st December 1976, 388 were taken on tours outside London. Taking into account the wishes of the visitors themselves, arrangements were made for visits by 57 to Oxford, 43 to Stratford-on-Avon, 115 to Edinburgh and nine to the Lake District. Some visitors went to more than one of these places. I am not in a position to answer for the other Departments which make arrangements for foreign visitors.