asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his officials were sent to Brussels in 1978 to discuss EEC matters; what was the total man-days involved; and what was the cost to public funds of travel and subsistence, including sums reimbursed by the Commission.

The information asked for does, of course, relate to the period of office of the previous Administration. I understand that in 1978, 51 officials of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments spent a total of 379 working days in Brussels on EEC matters. The cost to public funds of travel and subsistence was £28,439, of which £14,340 was reimbursed by the Commission.