HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 c107W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many visits abroad the Minister for Housing made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

Sir George Young

I made one departmental visit abroad during 1993. This was to Beirut, heading a construction industry trade mission. The cost to public funds was £2,147 and the purpose was to help win orders for United Kingdom construction companies in a competitive international marketplace.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many visits abroad the Minister for the Environment and Countryside made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

Mr. Atkins

My predecessors made 13 departmental visits abroad during 1993, at a total cost of £34,036. Details of the places visited and the purpose of each visit are set out.

Place visited Reason
Belgium (Brussels) EC Environment Council.
Luxembourg EC joint Energy and Environment Council.
Germany (Berlin) and BWIG conference "Wasser Berlin" and
Switzerland (Zurich and Lucerne) "Environment for Europe" Ministers conference.
Denmark (Copenhagen) Informal EC Environment Council.
Luxembourg EC Environment Council.
China and Japan British construction industry mission to China. Discussion of environmental and construction issues with new Japanese Government.
Luxembourg EC Environment Council.
Germany (Frankfurt and Bonn) Meeting with German Environment
Minister about EC packaging directive.
Belgium (Brussels) EC symposium on environment and development.
USA (Los Angeles) To study United States approach to air pollution, energy management and the use of economic instruments.
Belgium (Brussels) EC Environment Council.
Denmark (Copenhagen) Intermediate ministerial meeting on the North sea.
Belgium (Brussels) EC Environment Council.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many visits abroad the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities made during 1993; and what was(a) the cost to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

Mr. Curry

My predecessor made no departmental visits abroad in 1993. In my capacity as Minister for Local Government and Planning, I made two departmental visits abroad during 1993. These were to the Netherlands to attend an EC Council of Ministers meeting and to the United States to examine local government and planning practices and to discuss issues of mutual concern with my counterparts in the US Administration. The cost to public funds of these two visits was £10,590.