Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Friday, 2 June 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 June 2006. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Thursday, 8 June 2006 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

United States (Visit)

Question: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was of his most recent visit to the United States; how many (a) officials, (b) advisers and (c) members of his family accompanied him; what the cost was in each case; where he and those who accompanied him stayed during this visit; what the cost was in each case; if he will list those (i) United States Senators, (ii) Members of Congress and (iii) others that he met during the visit; which British Government Departments provided briefing material for his use during this visit; whether he (A) sought and (B) received advice from (1) the United States Department of State and (2) other United States government departments during this visit; when he next plans to visit the United States; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers’ travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the ministerial code, and the accompanying guidance document, ““Travel by Ministers””. Information for the year 2005-06 will be published as soon as it is ready. No members of my family accompanied me on the visit.During my recent visit to the United States I met Senators Dodd, Sunnunu, Alexander and Obama from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Briefing was provided by the relevant Government Departments. Advice was neither sought nor received from any US Government Department. For security reasons, my future engagements are announced as and when appropriate.

Secondary information