§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Lord President of the Council what facilities exist for hon. Members who are Front Benchers to visit countries on fact-finding missions and for such visits to be paid for by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the House; and if he will examine the desirability of making additional funds available for this purpose. [40242]
§ Mr. NewtonHer Majesty's Government facilities are a matter for individual Departments concerned. With regard to facilities provided by the House, the sum of £108,657 is allocated within the 1996–97 Short money—financial assistance to Opposition parties—in connection with Front-Bench travel in the United Kingdom and Europe on the parliamentary business of the parties. This travel fund, which I announced on 4 November 1993,Official Report, column 495, is uprated on the same basis as the main Short money allocation, that is by reference to the retail prices index in April of each year.