HC Deb 28 November 1996 vol 286 cc382-3W
Mr. MacShane

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [4941]

Mr. Boswell

Most of this information is set out in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Hall) on 5 March 1996,Official Report, column 130. The following update relates to ministerial visits since that answer. Information on the costs of non-ministerial visits can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial visits on EU business (update)
Date of visit Destination Purpose Cost £
7 March Brussels Bilateral with Commissioner Fischler 1,748.64
18 March Brussels Agriculture Council 1,969.82
29 March Brussels Meeting with Commissioner Fischler 929.88
1–3 April Luxembourg Agriculture Council 3,046.40
22 April Brussels Fisheries Council 2,242.56
23 April Brussels Agriculture Council 1,436.96
28–30 April Luxembourg Agriculture Council 4,762.29
5–7 May Otranto, Italy Informal Agriculture Council 1,786.55
20–21 May Brussels Agriculture Council 4,782.05
3–4 June Luxembourg Agriculture Council 3,246.41
13 June The Hague Meeting with Dutch Minister 1,454.10
4 June Brussels Meeting with Commissioner Bonino 1,900.50
6 June Dublin Fisheries Meeting with Irish Minister 1,050.17
10 June Luxembourg Fisheries Council 2,643.21
11 June Rotterdam Meeting with Dutch Minister 566.38
12 June Stockholm Meeting with Swedish Minister 566.38
24–25 June Luxembourg Agriculture Council 4,019.90
3 July Dublin Meeting with Irish Minister 1,056.00
17 July Strasbourg and Paris Meetings with Commissioner Fischler and French Minister 2,027.76
22–23 July Brussels Agriculture Council 4,729.51
23–24 July Brussels Agriculture Council 750.70

Ministerial visits on EU business (update)
Date of visit Destination Purpose Cost £
16–17 September Brussels Agriculture Council 4,753.62
23–24 September Killarney, Ireland Informal Agriculture Council 1,357.00
10 October Dublin Fisheries Meeting with Irish Minister 1,098.00
14 October Luxembourg Fisheries Council 3,029.75
28–30 October Luxembourg Agriculture Council 4,483.20
7 November Brussels Meeting with Presidency 1,362.70
18–19 November Brussels Agriculture Council 4,688.42
26 November Paris Meeting with French Minister 1,402.50

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