HC Deb 07 March 1979 vol 963 cc721-2W
Mr. Fairbairn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of hiring the chartered HS 125 executive jet to convey him to Bonn on 27 February; what was the purpose of the visit; and what other engagements he undertook in Bonn.

Dr. Owen

The cost of the round trip in the RAF aircraft as billed by the Ministry of Defence to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was £1,195.83. I was accompanied by three officials. My visit was part of a regular exchange of visits for discussions with Herr Genscher, the Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. My engagements included a session of talks in the afternoon of 27 February followed by a working dinner with Herr Genscher and officials; and a further session of talks on the following morning followed by an official lunch. In all, I had 11 hours of discussions with Herr Genscher. I also saw representatives ofDie Welt, Capital and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung after breakfast in the British Embassy on 28 February.

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