MINISTERIAL TRAVEL

12 The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (12 May 2010). Can the Minister for Families and Communities state:

1. What was the total cost of any overseas trips undertaken by the minister and staff since 2 December 2008 up to 1 December 2009?

2. What are the names of the officers who accompanied the minister on each trip?

3. Was any officer given permission to take private leave as part of the overseas trip?

4. Was the cost of each trip met by the minister's office budget, or by the minister's department or agency?

5. (a) What cities and locations were visited on each trip; and

(b) What was the purpose of each visit?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises): The Minister for Families and Communities has provided the following information for the period 2 December 2008 to 1 December 2009:

1. $63,266.24

2. Hon. Jennifer Rankine MP, Angela Duigan, Matthew Clemow and Joslene Mazel.

3. Nil.

4. Minister's Office Budget paid for Hon. Jennifer Rankine MP, Angela Duigan and Matthew Clemow. Department paid for Joslene Mazel.

5. (a) Belfast City, Dublin, Cardiff, London, New York and Boston.

(b) Belfast City—

Meetings regarding child protection and youth homelessness.

Dublin—

Meetings regarding vulnerable infants, child protection and youth homelessness.

Cardiff—

Meeting regarding domestic violence.

London—

Meetings regarding self-managed funding for people with disabilities, youth homelessness and the conservative borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

New York—

Meetings regarding homelessness, mental health and urban renewal.

Boston—

Meetings regarding child protection, homelessness, urban renewal and crime control.