HC Deb 17 June 1999 vol 333 cc196-7W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 10 February 1999,Official Report, columns 283–84, if he will (a) list Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits at current prices for the financial years 1993–94 to 1998–99, (b) list all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 2 May 1997 and 31 March 1999 including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit and (c) publish the rules governing travel by Ministers. [87665]

The Prime Minister

Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:

Year £ million
1993–94 6.5
1994–95 6.6
1995–96 6.9
1996–97 7.8
1 May 1997–31 March 1998 6.1
1998–99 4.8

The figures for 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 do not include some expenditure falling to the Scottish Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office because the information was not recorded centrally or is incomplete. Full costs are available from 1996–97 onwards. All figures are in 1997–98 prices. The figure for 1998–99 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to departments for payment.

A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 2 May 1997 and 31 March 1999 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate. Comprehensive listings for earlier years is not available.

Guidance on travel by Ministers is set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. The rules on travel by Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration. Travel by Ministers has always been an internal guidance document. However, in line with this Government's commitment to greater openness, I have decided to publish the document and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Ministerial Code is already in the public domain.