§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Prime Minister what is the procedure for purchasing tickets for overseas travel and reimbursement of costs for Ministers taking part in delegations abroad partly of a non-ministerial, personal or party political nature; and for how long Her Majesty's Government keep records of such visits. [5384]
§ The Prime MinisterDepartments have their own procedures for purchasing tickets for Ministers' travel on official trips abroad. Where the delegation in question is partly of a governmental and partly of a personal or party political nature, Ministers are required to ensure, in134W accordance with the terms of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers", paragraph 72, that no undue obligation is involved to their Department.
"Questions of Procedure for Ministers", paragraph 65, requires the Minister in charge of each Department to ensure that the Department draws up and maintains a record of all ministerial delegations whose travel has been at public expense. No systematic record is kept of Ministers' private travel, though Cabinet Ministers are expected to seek my, and then Her Majesty the Queen's, approval and junior Ministers are required to seek the approval of the Foreign Secretary and their Secretary of State before they travel overseas.