§ Mr. HallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of all overseas visits made by all Ministers of his Department since 1990, including(a) details of the places visited and brief reasons for the visit, (b) details of the size, composition and cost to public funds of the delegation and (c) the names of non-ministerial members of each delegation and the capacity in which each was present. [17483]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe lists for the years 1992 to 1995 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Recovery of data for the years 1990–92 would incur disproportionate costs. A list of standard delegations accompanying my right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary or one of his Ministers is also placed in the Libraries of the House. The need for officials to accompany Ministers is reviewed periodically on a case-by-case basis. To provide further details of the composition of each delegation, its function and its cost would also incur a disproportionate expense of public funds.