Ministers (Overseas Travel)

HC Deb 22 July 1980 vol 989 cc136-8W

Sir Donald Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many Ministers in his Department have made journeys abroad; if he will specify the number of separate occasions (a) to EEC countries and (b) to overseas countries outside the EEC within the 12 months to 30 June; how many staff of his Department and others accompanied the individual Minister on each occasion; what was the

EEC BUSINESS
	Minister					Number accompanying Minister	Cost £	Duration of visit days
Secretary of State	…	…	…	…	…	3	*	2
Ministers of State	…	…	…	…	…	3	417†	1
						4	772	2
						1	561	2
						4	978	2
						1	314	2
						2	557	1
Under Secretary of State	…	…	…	…	…	1	295	3
OTHER VISITS
	Minister					Number accompanying Minister	Cost £	Duration of visit days
Secretary of State	…	…	…	…	…	3	2,631	3
						4	750	2
						1	2,077†	11
Ministers of State	…	…	…	…	…	2	717	2
						1	7,596	11
						1	411	2
						1	479	2
						2	6l2†	1
Under Secretaries of State		…	…	…	…	—	573	2
						2	2,385	12
						—	243	3
						—	443	2
						2	343	2
						2	611	2
						—	272	3
						1	309	2
						1	216†	1
* Not yet available.
† Total cost not yet available.

The visits on non-EEC business were concerned mainly with trade talks, industrial investment and visits to industry. At present one visit to the United States is planned between 1 July and 31 December 1980.

Mr. Haynes

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those companies in Ashfield which have been granted selective financial assistance under the Industry Acts 1972.

overall cost on each occasion in respect of travel, subsistence and other expenditure involved; how many days were occupied on each visit; what was the object of each journey; and how many such visits are now planned to be undertaken from 1 July to 31 December.

Mr. David Mitchell

[pursuant to his reply 21 July 1980, c. 10]: The information in respect of visits in the 12 months ended 30 June 1980 is as follows:

Mr. David Mitchell

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1980]: Selective financial assistance offered under sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 is treated as commercially confidential until the first payment of grant is made in each case when details are published in "British Business" in accordance with arrangements announced by the then Secretary of State for Industry on 31 July 1974. Details of grants paid to companies with projects located in Ashfield have been included in the published tables.