§ Mr. WeirTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating(a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement. [6895]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyRecords of overseas visits are available only for the period since the Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999. Details are as follows:
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Date Destination and purpose Participants 30 March to 2 April 2000 Dublin—Meeting with Taioseach and other Ministers Secretary of State 1 Senior Civil Service 1 Grade 7 1 Special Adviser 19–20 September 2000 Brussels—Meetings with EU Commissioner, members of Committee for the Regions and UK Permanent Representative. Also attended official opening of the National Assembly Brussels office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Slate 1 HEO(D) 1 Special Adviser 19–21 October 2000 Bruges—Belgo/British Bilateral Conference Secretary of State 1 Senior Civil Service 2 Grade 7 1 Special Adviser 29 October to 1 November 2000 Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia—Polycentric Europe Conference on regional government in Europe Secretary of State 2 Senior Civil Service 1 Grade 7 1 Special Adviser 26–28 February 2001 Brussels—Bilateral visit Secretary of State 1 Senior Civil Service 1 Grade 7 1 Special Adviser It is not practicable separately to identify the costs of these visits.