§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary,Lord Chancellor's Department how many times the wives of Ministers in his Department have accompanied Ministers on overseas visits; and in each case what was the cost of their travel and other expenses. [25143]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 23 January 1998]: As I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) of 15 January 1998, Official Report, column 278, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor was accompanied by Lady Irvine at the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers, held in Trinidad and Tobago on 4–11 January 1998. It has since come to light that the total cost of the trip from public funds for the Lord Chancellor, Lady Irvine and an official was, in fact, approximately £9,200, as I explained to the hon. Member for Spelthorne in my letter of 21 January, a copy of which was placed in the Library.