HC Deb 13 December 1984 vol 69 cc551-2W
Mr. George

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many visits were made by each of the Departmental Select Committees, including visits by Sub-Committees, in the last Session, abroad and within the United Kingdom; and what is the total cost for each Committee for this Parliament to date, together with global figures for each Committee and for all Departmental Committees for the last Session.

Mr. Beith

[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1984, c. 361]: The information for Session 1983–84 is as follows. The accounts for some of the visits are not complete and the figures given represent the costs to date.

Select Committee Number of visits Cost of visits £
United Kingdom visits in 1983–84
Agriculture 2 1,466
Defence 9 4,674

Select Committee Number of visits Cost of visits £
Education, Science and Arts 1 1,407
Employment 4
Energy
Environment 3 4,173
Foreign Affairs
Home Affairs 1 36
Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration 5 3,340
Scottish Affairs 6 11,560
Social Services 8 5,968
Trade and Industry 3 1,127
Transport 9 8,255
Treasury and Civil Service 1 193
Welsh Affairs 1 404
Total 53 42,603
Overseas visits in 1983–84
Agriculture 2 5,030
Defence 3 5,949
Education, Science and Arts
Employment 2 23,295
Energy 1 30,576
Environment 2 15,394
Foreign Affairs 3 25,764
Home Affairs
Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration 2 15,365
Scottish Affairs 1 5,127
Social Services 1 12,435
Trade and Industry 1 1,554
Transport 2 31,075
Treasury and Civil Service
Welsh Affairs
Total 20 171,564
Total visits in 1983–84
Agriculture 4 6,496
Defence 12 10,623
Education, Science and Arts 1 1,407
Employment 6 23,295
Energy 1 30,576
Environment 5 19,567
Foreign Affairs 3 25,764
Home Affairs 1 36
Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration 7 18,705
Scottish Affairs 7 16,687
Social Services 9 18,403
Trade and Industry 4 2,681
Transport 11 39,330
Treasury and Civil Service 1 193
Welsh Affairs 1 404
Total 73 214,167

In the present Session, 1984–85, a further seven visits within the United Kingdom have been made by six Committees at a cost to date of £2,022.