§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times special advisers have accompanied Ministers on overseas visits in each of the last five years; which countries were visited; and what the total cost of each individual visit was. [47140]
§ Mr. Blunkett[holding answer 10 April 2002]: All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
Between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2002, special advisers have accompanied the Home Secretary abroad on six occasions at an average total cost of £2,030.02 for all involved in the trip. the countries visited were Spain, 894W France and Belgium. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2000 is already in the public domain.