§ David Davis:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a)foreign and (b)UK visits he has made since 1 April 2003; with the cost to public funds of each; whom he met; and the gifts received. [126898]
§ John Healey:The Government publish the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis. For the period up to 31 March 2003, I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt) on 16 July 2003, Official Report,column 327W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published at the end of the financial year.
In respect of gifts received, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 July 2003, Official Report,column 445W.
In the UK, the Chancellor visited Aberdeen University in April to receive an honorary degree at a cost of £192, the Carnegie Foundation in Edinburgh in May at no cost, the AMICUS conference in Blackpool in June at a cost of £306, the TGWU conference in Brighton in July at a cost of £42, the Local Government 4W Association conference in Harrogate in July at a cost of £107 and the TUC congress in Brighton in September at a cost of £42.
All ministerial travel is undertaken 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.