HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 c36W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use has been made by the British presidency of the European Union of interactive video conferencing; what responses have been received to date; what has been the cost to public funds to date; and what plans he has to make further use of video conferencing in this area. [28204]

Mr. Doug Henderson

Video conferencing is being used extensively during the UK's Presidency of the European Union, particularly between London and Brussels. We are also exploring ways of encouraging greater use of video-conferencing for contacts with EU Partners, but it is too early to draw conclusions on the practical scope for this.

The information requested on cost to public funds of video-conferencing is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.