Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions between 31 March  2002 and 31 March 2003 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [126672]

Ms Hewitt
Between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003, Departmental special adviser have travelled abroad in an official capacity four times, on all occasions accompanying the Secretary of State. On three occasions to Brussels at an average cost of £463 per visit, and on one occasion to the USA at no cost to the Department.------------------------------------------------------------
|Date                      |Place visited|                 |
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|19-20 June 2002           |Brussels     |1 special adviser|
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|26 November 2002          |Brussels     |1 special adviser|
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|3 March 2003              |Brussels     |1 special adviser|
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|28 July 2002–1 August 2002|USA          |1 special adviser|
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All travel by the special advisers was undertaken in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial code and the Civil Service management code.