6. Select Committee Visits
6.1 Definition
6.1.1 From 1st April 2003 Members are able
to recover the costs of two return journeys per year, travelling
on parliamentary duties, between the United Kingdom and any
European Union institution in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg
or the national parliament of a European Union state or a candidate
country. Details of countries covered as at 1 April 2003 are
as follows:
| 1 |
Austria |
1 |
Bulgaria |
| 2 |
Belgium |
2 |
Romania |
| 3 |
Cyprus |
3 |
Turkey |
| 4 |
Czech Republic |
|
|
|
5 |
Denmark |
|
|
|
6 |
Estonia |
|
|
7 |
Finland |
|
|
| 8 |
France |
|
|
|
9 |
Germany |
|
|
|
10 |
Greece |
|
|
|
11 |
Hungary |
|
|
|
12 |
Ireland |
|
|
|
13 |
Italy |
|
|
|
14 |
Latvia |
|
|
| 15 |
Lithuania |
|
|
|
16 |
Luxembourg |
|
|
|
17 |
Malta |
|
|
|
18 |
Netherlands |
|
|
|
Poland |
|
|
| 20 |
Portugal |
|
|
|
21 |
Slovakia |
|
|
|
22 |
Slovenia |
|
|
|
23 |
Spain |
|
|
| 24 |
Sweden |
|
|
6.2 Advance
Notice
6.2.1 Members must submit a statement, on
a form available from the Clerk of the Parliament's Office
or the Accountant's Office, to the Clerk of the Parliaments,
one week in advance of any visit, giving details of:
(iv) the persons or organisations to be
met
6.2.2 The Accountant's Office will advise
the Member concerned of the approval or otherwise of the Clerk
of the Parliaments, enclosing a claim form to be submitted
after the visit. Claim forms should be completed and returned
to the Accountant's Office together with bills and receipts
for any travel expenses incurred.
6.3 Travelling
Expenses
6.3.1 The amount payable in respect of travel,
by any means, out of and into the United Kingdom is restricted
to a maximum of the business class return fare between a station
or airport serving London or the area of the Member's main
residence and a station or airport serving the city visited.
Travel costs to and from the point of exit from and entry to
the UK can be claimed on the same terms as for expenses in
attending sittings of the House.
6.4 Subsistence
6.4.1 Members can also recover additional
expenses necessarily incurred in connection with such travel.
Subsistence for each visit is limited to two nights (48 hours)
at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Class A standard subsistence
rate current at the time of the visit. The standard subsistence
rate is deemed to cover all costs for accommodation, taxis,
meals and refreshments. Information on these rates is held
by the Accountant's Office.
6.4.2 The time spent abroad is used to calculate
the subsistence payable. Subsistence is calculated from the
time that a Member leaves Westminster or their main residence
until their return. Subsistence rates are set in the local
currency of the country being visited, but reimbursement will
be made in sterling at the exchange rate in force at the beginning
of the journey.
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