§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what was(a) the itinerary for and (b) the cost of the Minister for Housing's visit to Brazil of 4 to 8 November 2000. [9891]
§ Mr. RaynsfordI led a successful trade mission to Brazil and Chile from 5–10 November. We visited Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santiago. Accompanying me were around a dozen representatives from the British construction industry. The purpose of the mission was to promote British construction exports.
In Rio de Janeiro we met with the Municipal Secretary for Housing, representatives of Town Hall's Favela Bairro Programme, representatives of the UK and Brazilian Oil and Gas companies, the President of SINICON (Association for Heavy Construction), the British Chamber of Commerce, the State Secretary for Sanitation and Water Resource, representatives from CEDAE (local 569W water company), and ABES (sanitary engineers), a group of top architects from Rio, and local British and Brazilian businessmen. I also visited the Copa D'Or Hospital where I met with the President of D'Or Group.
In São Paulo we met with SABESP (Water Company) the Brazilian Trade Association for the Construction Industry, PINI Publishers, the Brazilian British Centre, ABRAS (retail association), the State Secretary for Transport and the President of Cia do Metropolitano de São Paulo Metro. We also made a site visit to a major road construction scheme with Rodanel and contributed to a PFI Seminar for representatives of the construction and finance sector in Brazil.
The total cost to the public funds of the mission to Brazil was approximately £9,800. This covered the cost of my travel and accommodation, local transportation, incidental expenses, interpreters' fees and that of my Private Secretary who accompanied me.