§ Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Energy what instructions he has given his Department on the numbers permitted to attend public visits or other 119W functions paid for by his Department; and whether he has sought reduction in the cost of such official visits.
§ Mr. David HowellAll my officials have been reminded of the urgent need to economise on travel and subsistence expenditure. In particular, they have been asked critically to examine the need for proposed journeys, to plan necessary visits in the most cost effective way and to consider utilising cheaper forms of travel whenever practicable. All overseas visits are subject to prior approval in writing by head of divisions and authority for more than one officer of the Department to attend any overseas meeting is now required to be given at deputy secretary level.
Currently more than a quarter of the travel and subsistence expenditure incurred by my Department is recovered through charges to outside bodies.