To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the cost of Ministerial overseas travel in his Department in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 to date. [26659]

[holding answer 5 February 1998]: The estimated costs for both the former Departments of the Environment and Transport and the merged Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions are as follows:

£
	DOE	DOT	DETR	Total
1995–96	105,237	86,371	—	191,608
1996–97	120,131	57,801	—	177,932
1997–98 to 31 January	14,937	—	124,115	139,052

In the case of the former Department of Transport these figures also include an element for travel within the UK.The Department of the Environment figures for 1997–98 cover the period of one month from 1 April until the election when £14,937 overseas expenditure was incurred by ministers in the previous Government. The remaining amount relates to travel costs of this Government to 31 January.