§ Mr. TyrieTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisors have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [126661]
§ Ruth KellyBetween 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 special advisers in the Treasury Department travelled abroad on official business on eight occasions, at an average cost of £4,330 per trip. Countries visited are USA on 19–22 April 2002, 30 May to 2 June 2002, 3–5 September 2002, 26–30 September 2002 (x 2), 5 March 2003; France on 11 September 2002 and 16 January 2003. All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.