To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which foreign countries civil servants from his Department have visited over the last 12 months in order to study the design and impact of welfare reforms. (148155)

[holding answer 9 July 2007]: With a view to studying best practice in welfare reform, officials from my Department have visited a number of countries in the 12 months up to 30 June 2007, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark and Germany.