HC Deb 20 January 1994 vol 235 c812W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Prime Minister what public funds are currently made available(a) through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and (b) through other channels to finance the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body; what has been the level of such fundings in each of the years since it commenced; what is the purpose of those funds; what information he has relating to the expenditure by that body upon travel, hotel accommodation and refreshments in each of those years; by whom that expenditure was incurred; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister

[holding answer 17 January 1994]: The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body is funded jointly by the British Government, through a grant in aid from Her Majesty's Treasury administered by the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and by the Irish Government's Department of Foreign Affairs. The body was established in 1990 to provide a forum for British and Irish parliamentarians to discuss Anglo-Irish relations. Twenty-five Members of Parliament and 25 members of the Oireachtas belong.

Two plenary conferences are held each year, one in the United Kingdom and one in Ireland. There is a steering committee and four separate committees tasked to study and prepare reports on a range of issues including political, economic, social, cultural, educational and environmental matters. Since 1990 British Government expenditure has been as follows:

£
1989–90
Total expenditure 46,757
Accommodation 7,006
Travel/transport 1,442
Refreshments 8,489
1990–91
Total expenditure 64,998
Accommodation 639
Travel/transport 10,826
Refreshments 2,539
1991–92
Total expenditure 98,310
Accommodation 16,150
Travel/transport 23,280
Refreshments 11,214
1992–93
Total expenditure 78,352
Accommodation 9,616
Travel/transport 13,798
Refreshments 4,814
1993–94
Final expenditure figures for the year are not yet available but are forecast to fall within the budget.

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