§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of the three visits made outside the United Kingdom by the independent commissioner for the holding centres in his official capacity since his appointment, listing the countries visited, the purpose and the total cost to public funds of each visit.
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 10 January 1995]: Since his appointment in December 1992, the independent commissioner made three visits in that capacity outside the United Kingdom.
From 3 to 7 June 1994, the commissioner visited the United States of America where he met officials of the British embassy in Washington DC, the head of the North European Bureau of the United States State Department, Congressional officials, facilitated by the director of United States congressional human rights caucus, a senior representative and members of Amnesty International, lawyers from New Jersey with a particular interest in Northern Ireland affairs, representatives from Human Rights Watch (New York), the executive director and members of the United States Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (New York), representatives of non-governmental organisations concerned with prisoner's rights, and a senior representative of the New York Bar Association's council for international affairs.
On 21 July 1994 the commissioner visited Dublin where he met Mr. Dick Spring, the Tanaiste, a senior Garda officer and officials from the departments of Health and Justice.
From 11 to 20 September 1994 the commissioner returned to the United States of America to attend, at the invitation of their president, the annual conference in Florida of the International Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, where he also met members of the United States Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (New York), members of the New York Bar Association, Human Rights Watch (New York) and some press/media representatives from New York and District.
The total cost to public funds in respect of each visit was as follows:
- 3–7 June 1994: £1,200
- 21 July 1994: £300
- 11–20 September 1994: £3,000