§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the overseas visits between 1 July and 19 October on which Ministers have been accompanied by special advisers and, for each trip,(a) the name of the adviser, (b) the class and cost of travel booked for the adviser, (c) the class of travel actually used by the adviser and (d) the accommodation and ancillary costs for the adviser. [55999]
§ Mr. Meale[holding answer 22 October 1998]: The Ministerial Code requires Ministers always to make efficient and cost effective travel arrangements. In line with the practice of successive Administrations, civil servants (including Special Advisers) accompanying Ministers on overseas visits are entitled to use the same class of travel as the Minister they are accompanying to facilitate briefings and discussions. Ministers in this Department were accompanied by a Special Adviser on 4 overseas visits to Hong Kong and China, Portugal, Japan and Singapore, and Vienna. They were also accompanied by a total of 10 civil servants at a total cost of to date £67,431. Some invoices are still awaited for the Japan and Vienna trips.