§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the cost in the last 12 months of sending Ministers and officials to meetings in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe in connection with his Department's handling of EU business. [4943]
§ Mr. PaiceThe cost to the DfEE of sending Ministers and accompanying officials to meetings related to European Union business between 1 November 1995 and 31 October 1996 was £13,072.51.
Many areas of the Department's business involve negotiation on EU matters. The cost of sending officials to meetings on EU business could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of her Department's time and resources are spent dealing with administrative and policy matters connected with British membership of the European Union. [4953]