§ Lord Tomlinsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
If they will (a) list government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1995–96 to 2000–01 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit. [HL580]
§ Lord Williams of MostynExpenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:
Year £ million 1995–96 7.3 1996–97 7.9 2 May 1997–31 March 1998 6.4 1998–99 4.9 1999–2000 4.6 2000–01 4.7 1 The figure for 1995–96 does not include some expenditure falling to 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. A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 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.