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Middle East

Volume 459: debated on Wednesday 2 May 2007

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a Minister in his Department last visited (a) Bahrain, (b) Kuwait, (c) Oman, (d) Qatar, (e) Saudi Arabia, (f) the United Arab Emirates and (g) Yemen on official business. (131352)

All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and “Travel by Ministers”. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. I can confirm that the Chancellor attended the International Monetary and Financial Committee meetings in Dubai in September 2003 and passed through Dubai in March 2007. The Chancellor visited Riyadh in November 2005 and passed through Abu Dhabi en route. The Chancellor also passed through Kuwait in November 2006. The Economic Secretary visited the United Arab Emirates in November 2006 and the Paymaster General visited the United Arab Emirates in January 2007.