§ Mr AncramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many conferences he and his Ministers attended(a) in the UK and (b) abroad in the year to 29 February 2004; and what the cost was of attending these conferences, broken down by (i) travel costs, (ii) food and drink, (iii) accommodation and (iv) miscellaneous costs. [160797]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 16 March 2004]: Since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list includes details of my attendance at overseas conferences. The details for the financial year 2003/04 will be published as soon as possible after 31 March 2004. All ministerial travel is undertaken in line with the rules set out in the Ministerial code and Travel by Ministers. During the period 1 March 2003–29 February 2004, I attended the following conference and meetings, including those of UN, EU or NAQTO formations:
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Overseas Date Conference Location 20–21 March 2003 Europe Council Brussels, Belgium 16 April, 2003 Informal European Council and Signature of the Accession Athens, Greece 17 April, 2003 European Conference Athens. Greece 2–3 May 2003 Gymnich (informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers Rhodes, Greece 19 May 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council Brussels, Belgium 22–23 May 2003 G8 Foreign Ministers meeting Paris, France 3 June, 2003 NATO Foreign Ministers meeting Madrid, Spain 16 June, 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council Luxembourg 19–21 June 2003 European Council and EU/Western Balkans Summit Porto Caras, Greece 21 July, 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council Brussels, Belgium 5–6 September 2003 Gymnich (Informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers) Riva del Garda, Italy 13 September, 2003 UN "Permanent 5" meeting Geneva, Switzerland 22–25 September 2003 UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) New York, USA 4 October, 2003 Intergovernmental conference (IGC) Rome, Italy 13 October, 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council Luxembourg 16–17 October 2003 European Council Brussels, Belgium 27 October, 2003 ICG Meeting Brussels, Belgium 17–18 November 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council and IGC meeting Brussels, Belgium 28–29 November 2003 Intergovernmental Conference Ministerial Conclave Naples, Italy 8 December, 2003 General and External Relations Council Brussels, Belgium 12–13 December 2003 European Council Brussels, Belgium 21 January, 2004 Annual meeting of the World Economic Forum Davos, Switzerland 26 January, 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council Brussels, Belgium 23 February, 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council Brussels, Belgium I have placed the list of conferences or meetings attended by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers during the period 1 March 2003—February 2004 in the Library of the House.