§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19 April (WA 20), what is the annual total cost of all Ministers' and civil servants' overseas visits; and what proportion of that total cost they estimate to be spent on European Union business. [HL2540]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonAs I indicated in my Written Answer of 19 April to the noble Lord, the Government publish on an annual basis details of the total cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. This figure includes the cost of visits overseas on European business. The Government also publish on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers, including visits on European business, costing more than £500. The total cost of all ministerial overseas travel for the financial year 2002–03 is an estimated £5.7 million. The amount spent on Ministers' visits overseas on European Union business is not separately identifiable.
Information relating to the cost of civil servants' visits overseas, including the cost of visits made on European Union business, is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.