HC Deb 27 October 1994 vol 248 cc765-6W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were the costs to the British embassy in the USA arising from the visit of HRH The Princess of Wales in October 1994;

(2) what was the cost to his Department with particular reference to United Kingdom posts of the recent visit of the Princess of Wales to the USA.

Mr. Baldry

The recent private visit of the Princess of Wales to the USA involved costs to the embassy in Washington on entertainment, transport and staff time. The costs were part of the normal functioning of the embassy. The full costs cannot be readily identified.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he was(a) informed of or (b) authorised the expenditure incurred by the British embassy in respect of the recent visit by the Princess of Wales to the USA.

Mr. Baldry

This private visit by the Princess of Wales involved costs to the embassy, on entertainment, transport and staff time. These are part of the normal running of an embassy, within the head of mission's discretion.