§ Mr. Mathew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the(a) budgeted and (b) actual expenditure by her Department on (1) internal and (2) overseas travel by the Secretary of State in 1992–93 after 11 April 1992 and so far in 1993–94.
§ Mr. SackvilleMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's travel costs are not budgeted separately from those of other Ministers. The travel and subsistence figures, excluding the cost of services provided by the Government car service, for all Ministers and their private office staff and those in the parliamentary relations unit are as follows:
Travel and Subsistence Financial Year Domestic £ Overseas £ 1992–93 planned 151,619 actual 49,296 11,085 1993–94 planned2 70,000 50,000 actual3 46,138 57,641 1 No specific sum allocation for domestic or overseas expenditure. 2 Funds increased to take account of price increases, the addition of an extra Minister and private office and for commitments to visits overseas. 3 To December 1994.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits abroad the Minister of State made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.
§ Mr. SackvilleMy right hon. Friend the Minister of State made three overseas visits at an estimated cost of £5,526. Two of these visits were to attend meetings of Ministers of the European Community Health Council, while the third was a fact finding visit to the United States of America in connection with his ministerial responsibilities.