58.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what expenses were incurred in respect of travelling, board and lodging by the British delegation to the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's conference; over what period they were incurred; and by whom they were borne.
I have been asked to reply. The expenses for travelling amounted to £1,077 and for board and lodging to £1,563. They were incurred over a period of five weeks from 15th May to 19th June. Of the total £2,640, £2,497 will be borne on the Vote of the Ministry of Education and £143 by the British Council. The foregoing figures are not final but have been assessed as accurately as possible at this stage.
Does the Minister consider that these expenses were justified by the results of the conference and does he consider that the results of the conference justify the absence of the permanent head of his Department during the whole of that period?
The answer to both questions is, "Yes, Sir."
Are there not additional expenses to be borne by this country through their share in the total budget of U.N.E.S.C.O.?
These are the expenses of the delegates who attended the conference at Florence, as accurately as we can assess them at the present time.
Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that, in the view of most people, money spent on the support of the cultural and constructive activities of the United Nations is always well spent?