§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official representations abroad were made by Ministers in his Department in(a) 1997–98, 371W (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; which countries were visited; in which capacity each visit was undertaken; and what was the cost of each visit. [150059]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 12 February 2001]: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since then Scotland Office Ministers have made a number of visits abroad for a variety of official purposes. The Secretary of State made visits to Spain and Italy and the Minister of State made visits to
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Canada
- Cuba
- Egypt
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Ireland
- Japan/Manila
- Mexico
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Thailand
- Vietnam.
The Minister of State's overseas visits were to promote Scottish trade or wider Scottish and UK interests. The total cost of ministerial overseas travel in 1999–2000 was £11,198 and £29,183 in 2000–01.
The information for earlier years is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official trade representations abroad Scotland Office Ministers have made in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01; and which countries were visited. [150036]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 12 February 2001]: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. In 1999–2000 the Minister of State, who had trade responsibilities within the Department, made trade-related visits to France, Belgium, Italy, Egypt and the Far East (Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam). In 2000–01 the Minister made visits to Belgium; Azerbaijan; Germany; Sweden; Slovenia; Canada; Cuba; Italy and Japan.