I visited Finland on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel by Ministers”, copies of which are available in the Library for the reference of Members. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of ministerial overseas travel. Copies of the lists are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
I refer the hon. Member to my letter to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) of Tuesday 4 July, which is appended to the Memorandum from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to the Standards and Privileges Committee. The memorandum is available in the thirteenth report of the Standards and Privileges Committee which is available in the Library for the reference of Members.
All travel is undertaken in accordance with the ‘Ministerial Code’ and ‘Travel by Ministers’. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 as well as the total cost of ministerial overseas travel. Information relating to 2005-06 was published on Monday 24 July and is available in the Library for the reference of Members.
[holding answer 11 September 2006]: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel by Ministers”, copies of which are available in the Library. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of ministerial overseas travel. Copies of the lists are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
Hospitality received by Ministers is declared in the Register of Members' Interests as appropriate. The Government publishes an annual list of gifts received by Ministers valued at more than £140, including details of which gifts were retained by Ministers personally. Information relating to 2005-06 was published on Monday 24 July and copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members.