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Paybill costs

The paybill for special advisers in 2007-08 was £5.9 million(3)

Ministerial Travel 2007-08

The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): I am today publishing a list of all visits overseas undertaken by Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008, which has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers’ travel and accommodation where appropriate.

Total expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the last three financial years is set out in the table below:

YearExpenditure (£ million)

2005-06

6.1

2006-07

6.95

2007-08

5.3


Ministerial Gifts (2007-08)

The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): I have today published lists of gifts given and gifts received by Ministers. Both lists provide details of gifts valued at more than £140 for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. Copies of the lists have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.


22 July 2008 : Column 103WS

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): I have today published the ninth report of the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. The report provides an account of the work of the Committee in giving advice about appointments that Ministers and senior Crown servants wish to take up after leaving office. The report covers the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I am grateful to Lord Mayhew of Twysden, who was the chairman over this period, and to all the other members, for giving their time and expertise so freely.

As the House has previously been informed, the business of this important Committee has been managed by Sir John Blelloch since Lord Mayhew stepped down as chairman on health grounds in March this year. I wish to thank him for generously agreeing to extend his service further for this purpose.

The Government intend to refresh the membership of the Committee over the coming months. I am pleased that Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, who is currently serving on the Committee, has agreed to step into the role of chairman over this interim period.

UK Visits 2007-08

The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): I have today published a list of UK visits made by my predecessor and me during the financial year 2007-08.


22 July 2008 : Column 104WS
DateOfficial visit to

Rt. hon. Tony Blair

2-3 April 2007

Edinburgh/ Glasgow/ Nottingham/ Birmingham

11 April

Cardiff/ Port Talbot/ Milford Haven

13 April

Glasgow

19-20 April

Manchester

23 April

London

25-26 April

Glasgow/ Kilmarnock

1 May

Edinburgh

8 May

Belfast

11 May

London

14 May

Greenwich/ Northampton/ Altrincham

21 May

London

24 May

London

24-25 May

Redditch/ Birmingham/ Bromsgrove/ Dudley

12 June

London

14 June

Pangbourne

14-15 June

Liverpool

24 June

Manchester

26 June

London

Rt. hon. Gordon Brown MP

29 June

London

30 June

Kingston, Surrey

4 July

Brighton

5 July

London

7 July

Doncaster/ Hull

10 July

London

13 July

London

18 July

London

23 July

Gloucester

25 July

Gloucester/ Tewkesbury

3 August

Weymouth/ Portland

6 August

London

6 August

Reigate

22 August

Wembley

30 August

London

15 October

London

25 October

London

31 October

London

9 November

Coleshill/ Selly Oak/ Leamington Spa

16 November

Manchester/ Liverpool

17 November

Glasgow

3 December

London

6 December

London

11 December

London

2008

1 January

Slough

2 January

London

3 January

London

7 January

London

10 January

London

11 January

Leeds

14 January

London

28 January

London

1 February

Telford

5 February

London

10 February

Manchester

15 February

Llandudno

18 February

London

20 February

London

25 February

London

29 February - 1 March

Birmingham

7 March

London

11 March

London

20 March

London

25 March

Stevenage

27 March

London

28 March

Aviemore, Scotland

31 March

Leicester/ Coventry


Official Hospitality (Chequers)

The Prime Minister (Mr. Gordon Brown): I have today published a list of those who have received official hospitality at Chequers for the financial year 2007-2008 since I became Prime Minister:


22 July 2008 : Column 105WS

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