§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give full details of the number and cost of overseas visits made by Ministers, Junior Ministers and their civil servants since October 1974; and how these figures compare with the equivalent period of time prior to October 1974.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisRecords of ministerial visits overseas were not held centrally before August 1975 so that a comparison with previous periods is not possible. Since August 1975 there have been 443 overseas visits by Ministers at an approximate total cost of £1.1 million. It is not possible to apportion the overall cost between Ministers and officials accompanying them.
Details of the costs of overseas visits by civil servants not in the company of a Minister are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.