§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what the total budget of(a) her Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03; [84932]
(2) what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02. [84799]
§ Clare Short[holding answer 3 December 2002.]: My Department does not hold a central budget for official travelling.
Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 29W 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, .Official Report, columns 1374–75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.