§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers have visited India since May 1997; what was the purpose of each visit; by whom these Ministers were accompanied; and what was the cost to his Department of each trip. [141519]
§ Mr. HainThere have been eight FCO ministerial visits to India since May 1997
Mr. Fatchett, June 1997: for bilateral discussion and to push for greater trade and investment. He was accompanied by Mr. E. Rose (Private Secretary), and Mr. H. Synnott (Director Asia). He also visited Pakistan. The approximate cost was £11,000.Baroness Symons, September 1997: for discussions on bilateral and consular issues. She was accompanied by Mr. W. Clare (Private Secretary). She also visited Pakistan. The approximate cost was £9,000.Secretary of State, October 1997: to accompany Her Majesty The Queen on a State Visit. He was accompanied by Mr. J. Grant (Principal Private Secretary), Miss E. Rea, MBE (PA/Mr. Grant), 122W Det. Ch. Insp. R. Allen (Protection Officer), Det. Sgt. D. Malcolm (Protection Officer). He also visited Pakistan. The approximate cost was £16,000.Mr. Fatchett, November 1998: to attend the EU Foreign Ministers' Troika and to promote the Indo-British Partnership (trade). He was accompanied by Mr. F. Baker (Private Secretary), and Mr. R. Dixon (News Department). He also visited Sri Lanka. The approximate cost was £10,000.Mr. Hain, November 1999: for bilateral discussions and to launch the "Get Connected" IT initiative. He was accompanied by Mr. F. Baker (Private Secretary). The approximate costs was £12,500.Mr. Vaz, February 2000: to look at ways of improving entry clearance services. He was accompanied by Mr. N. Hopton (Private Secretary), Mr. E. Wallace (Assistant Private Secretary), Mr. D. Reddaway (Director Public Services) and Ms J. Battersby (Migration and Visa Department). He also visited Bangladesh. The approximate cost was £12,500.Secretary of State, April 2000: on a bilateral visit and to launch the UK-India Round Table. He was accompanied by Mrs. G. Cook, Lord Paul (Co-chairman of the UK-India Round Table), Mr. S. Cowper-Coles, CMG, LVO (Principal Private Secretary), Mr. A. Patrick (Private Secretary), Ms R. Marsden (Director Asia Pacific), Dr. M. Williams (Special Adviser), Mr. K. Darroch, CMG (News Department), Miss E. Rea, MBE (PA/ Mr. Cowper-Coles), Miss L. Beats (PA/Mr. Darroch), Miss R. Read (PA/Mr. Patrick), Miss C. Whitehorn (Visits Officer), Mr. S. Moore (Radio Engineer), Det. Sgt. A. Walsh (Protection Officer), Det. Con. R. Restorick (Protection Officer), and three Royal Military Policemen. He also visited Thailand and Nepal. The approximate cost was £170,000.Mr. Hain, November 2000: for bilateral discussions and to promote images of modem Britain. He was also accompanied by Mr. R. Gwynn (Private Secretary). He also visited Sri Lanka. The approximate cost was £7,000.