§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his officials were sent to Brussels in 1978 to discuss EEC matters; what was the total man-days involved; and what was the cost to public funds of travel and subsistence, including sums reimbursed by the Commission.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe information asked for does, of course, relate to the period of office of the previous Administration. I understand that in 1978, 51 officials of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments spent a total of 379 working days in Brussels on EEC matters. The cost to public funds of travel and subsistence was £28,439, of which £14,340 was reimbursed by the Commission.