asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether, in view of the general encouragement which has been given by Her Majesty's Government to local authorities to embark upon twinning arrangements with towns in France and other European countries, he will take steps to ensure that reasonable expenditure incurred by such authorities in connection with these arrangements can be treated as permissible by district auditors.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Local Authorities (Expenses) Act, 1956, which authorises payments on official and courtesy visits such as he mentions.