§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on ministerial travel(a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if he will make a statement. [92490]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Northern Ireland Office follow Cabinet Office guidance on this matter. The guidance states, "Since 1999 this Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government has also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
Information for 1997–98 was included in the 1999 list. The overall cost of Ministers' visits for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 was most recently provided with the 2001 list. The information for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.
Detailed information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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.
The estimated total expenditure by the devolved Northern Ireland Administration on ministerial travel between 2 December 1999–11 February 2000 and 30 May 2000–14 October 2002 was £363,630.69.
A breakdown of the figures for Northern Ireland Administration departments is shown in the table.
532W
UK Abroad DOE 2,554.50 1,010.17 DFP 281.00 5,253.00 DETI 6,591.35 102,912.19 DRD 2,879.00 10,375.00 DARD 1,749.28 19,445.02 For the Northern Ireland Administration, the number of laptop computers used, lost and stolen in, each year since 1995 by Ministers, special advisers and officials are set out in the table. The information relating to Ministers and special advisers in the Northern Ireland Administration is for the periods of devolution only. In the case of one department figures are not available prior to 1998.
UK Abroad DEL 2,447.35 9,031.70 DHSSPS 1,981.82 1,756.87 DE 1,683.90 10,683.01 DSD 00.00 00.00 DCAL 2,920.75 4,074.78 Sub-Totals: 23,088.95 164,541.74 OFMDFM 2000–01 160,000.00 1 2001–02 155,000.00 1 2002–03 21,000.00 40,000.00 Sub-Totals: 136,000.00 40,000.00 1 The information is not held in the required format