HC Deb 24 July 1980 vol 989 cc321-3W
Sir Donald Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade 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

Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the amount of textiles imported from South Africa by volume and value during the years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; what were the different categories of these imports; and who were the major suppliers of these imports.

Mr. Parkinson

The information that can be provided within acceptable limits of cost is as follows:

was the 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. Nott

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1980, c. 25]: In the year ended 30 June 1980 Ministers in my Department undertook the following visits:

ON EEC BUSINESS
Ministers Number accompanying Minister Cost £ Length of visit days
Secretary of State … … 1 378† 2
2 1,097 2
2 970† 1
Minister for Consumer Affairs … … 2 701 2
3 1,711 5
2 1,298 2
Minister for Trade … … — 221 2
— 1,106 1
2 438 2
4 702 2
1 296† 2
— 878 2
2 369 1
2 383 1
Under-Secretary of State … … 4 576 2
2 365 1
2 222 2
2 344 1

OTHER VISITS
Ministers Number accompanying Minister Cost £ Length of visit days
Secretary of State … … 4 12,811 21
4 5,481 6
3 11,945 14
1 573 3
1 3,657 2
3 10,213 8
Minister for Trade … … 3 698 3
3 2,793 3
3 6,026 12
1 635 2
9 5,790 4
2 1,217 5
2 4,786 10
2 1,424 3
3 6,296 5
2 4,200 8
3 4,153 7
Under-Secretaries of State … … 2 4,602 9
2 1,754 2
2 2,014 6
1 —* 1
1 2,037 10
2 2,529 8
* Not yet available.
† Incomplete.
The visits not dealing with EEC business were concerned with trade talks and trade promotion Between now and the end of the year Ministers in my Department expect to undertake six visits on EEC business and 17 other visits.