Overseas travel 19/09/2012

Request for Information.

Thank you for your request received on 08 August in which you asked,

From January 1 to August 2012, please disclose the following detail on all overseas travel for Assembly Members:

- Name of AM. - Destination. - Purpose of travel. - Full itinerary of meetings associated with overseas trip. - Cost of travel. (Cost of train/plane trip) - Means of travel (train/plane) and class of travel. - Name and address of accommodation. - Cost of accommodation. - Other expenses submitted by AM in association with the overseas trip, for example meals and other travel such as taxis.

For your information, overseas visits by Assembly Members can be arranged through three different areas of the Assembly, depending on the reasons for the visit.

The first area is European Travel where Members claim for the costs of the visit through their allowances. These costs are published (or will be published) on the allowances database on the website under ‘European Travel’ http://www.allowances.assemblywales.org.uk/. The further information that you have requested, and which is not published against those claims is as follows:

Members Name Destination Class Hotel Name / Address Purpose Itinerary Wales / Brussels via Euro traveller Bedford Hotel, 135-137, rue du Midi 25 June 2012 - Meetings, arranged by Gregg Jones London Wales / Brussels at the Wales Office in Brussels for the National Brussels via London Assembly for Wales, with UKREP to discuss EU (Returning to Cardiff Budgets, Horizon 2020, regional transport policy, for Plenary) British Chambers of Commerce (The visit included sessions on DG regional policy, the Eurozone crisis, update on EU structural funds and CAP reform negotiations, EU research and innovation from speakers from Welsh Higher Education Brussels Office, ERRIN and UKRO), DG agriculture, DG enterprise and POLIS sustainable urban transport EU network) Meetings were also arranged by Dr Swinburne MEP to discuss matters relating to equality. Wales / Brussels via Euro traveller Bedford Hotel, 135-137, rue du Midi As above. London Brussels Wales / Helsinki via Euro traveller Sokos Vakkuna Hotel, Helsinki 12,13, and 14th Feb 2012 London Look at child protection issues, protecting children from physical punishment. Visit school and child welfare services in Helsinki. Session at National Institute for Health and Welfare, meeting Members of Parliament. Andrew RT Davies Wales / Brussels via Euro traveller Bedford Hotel, 135-137, rue du Midi 25 June 2012 - Meetings, arranged by Gregg Jones London Brussels at the Wales Office in Brussels for the National Assembly for Wales, with UKREP to discuss EU Budgets, Horizon 2020, regional transport policy, British Chambers of Commerce (The visit included sessions on DG regional policy, the Eurozone crisis, update on EU structural funds and CAP reform negotiations, EU research and innovation from speakers from Welsh Higher Education Brussels Office, ERRIN and UKRO), DG agriculture, DG enterprise and POLIS sustainable urban transport EU network) Meetings were also arranged by Dr Swinburne MEP to discuss matters relating to equality. Wales / Brussels via Euro traveller Bedford Hotel, 135-137, rue du Midi As above. London Brussels Wales / Helsinki via Euro traveller Sokos Vakkuna Hotel, Helsinki 12,13, and 14th Feb 2012 London Look at child protection issues, protecting children from physical punishment. Visit school and child welfare services in Helsinki. Session at National Institute for Health and Welfare, meeting Members of Parliament. Wales / Stansted Arranged by the Arranged by the Co-operative Society 05 April 2012 - To meet with the Mondragon Co- Airport Co-operative so information not held by the operative Society in the Basque Country Society so Assembly Study visit, developing co-operative and mutual information not models of business held by the Assembly Llyr Gruffydd Wales / Brussels via Economy Ibis, Rue marche aux Herbes, 13-15 February 2012 Manchester Brussels Meeting with European Commission Meet Wales House representatives, UKREP, Chamber of Commerce, ERRIN, Climate-KIC, Mark Isherwood Wales to Brussels via Euro traveller Bedford Hotel, 135-137, rue du Midi 25 June 2012 - Meetings, arranged by Gregg Jones Chester, Crewe and Brussels at the Wales Office in Brussels for the National London. Return to Assembly for Wales, with UKREP to discuss EU Cardiff (Travelled to Budgets, Horizon 2020, regional transport policy, Brussels on Sunday for British Chambers of Commerce (The visit included all day meetings on sessions on DG regional policy, the eurozone crisis, Monday, return on update on EU structural funds and CAP reform Tuesday to Cardiff for negotiations, EU research and innovation from Plenary) speakers from Welsh Higher Education Brussels Office, ERRIN and UKRO), DG agriculture, DG enterprise and POLIS sustainable urban transport EU network) Meetings were also arranged by Dr Swinburne MEP to discuss matters relating to equality. Including meetings relating to shadow ministerial portfolio on DG Justice, and meeting with CECODHAS, EU Housing network/lobby, to cover latest developments in EU housing policy. Wales / Paris via Standard Information not held as not arranged 28 and 29 June 2012 - Eurostar by the Assembly Key speaker on Wales law, ref domestic fire safety Meet with Fire services, European law makers, Cllrs, housing personal & reps from the sprinkler industry. Wales / Brussels via Economy Ibis, Rue marche aux Herbes, 13-15 February 2012 Manchester Brussels Meeting with European Commission Meet Wales House representatives, UKREP, Chamber of Commerce, ERRIN, Climate-KIC, Wales / Helsinki via Euro traveller Sokos Vakkuna Hotel, Helsinki 12,13, and 14th Feb 2012 London Look at child protection issues, protecting children from physical punishment. Visit school and child welfare services in Helsinki. Session at National Institute for Health and Welfare, meeting Members of Parliament. Wales/ Brussels via Economy Ibis, Rue marche aux Herbes, 23 April 2012 - Discuss EU Structural funds, London Brussels integration, CAPS Meet Wales House representatives, UKREP, Chamber of Commerce, ERRIN, Climate-KIC

The second area relates to visits that are arranged for Committee business. There has been one such visit this year, the details of which are as follows:

Assembly Destinatio Rail Eurosta Accomm Taxi Meals Class Hotel Purpose/itinerary Member n costs r costs costs costs Mick Brussels £671 £1123 £3176 2nd Class Renaissa 09-11 May 2012 - Environment Antoniw (total (total (total nce and Sustainability committee visit costs for costs costs for Hotel, to European Commission. The visit Rebecca all for all all £15.80 Rue du was to discuss the impact of two Evans Members Member Members Parnasse reports produced by the booked s booked 19 · committee (on proposed reforms Russell centrally booked centrally £18.65 Brussels, to the Common Agriculture and George through centrally through 1050 Fisheries Policies), subsequent the through the Belgium progress in co-decision with Vaughan Assembly the Assembly MEPs, especially with Rapporteurs Gething Committe Assembl Committe as well as Senior Commission e Service) y e Service) Officials in the relevant DGs and to Llyr Huws Commit inform the negotiating stance for Gruffydd tee Welsh stakeholders. Sessions also Service) held with UKRep, and on DG Agriculture, CAP and CFP reform, maritime affairs and fisheries, and William DG environment. Powell

David Rees

Antoinette Sandbach

Dafydd Ellis £27.87 £21.75 Thomas

The third area relates to overseas visits by the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officer as part of their official duties. The information is as follows:

Assembly Destination Flights Meals Taxi Accommodation Class Hotel Purpose/itinerary Member Rosemary Chicago £1058 £50.45 £133.66 £1215.62 Premier Hyatt (Aug '12) As Presiding Officer, to Butler Economy Regency represent and promote the National McCormic Assembly for Wales and its work, as k Place an International Attendee at the 2233 National Conference of State South Dr Legislatures 2012 Legislative ML King Jr Summit and also in meeting with Drive representatives of Illinois' Welsh Chicago Societies. David Falkland No cost to No cost No cost No cost to the Economy Malvina (Feb '12) At the invitation and Melding Islands the to the to the Assembly House expense of the Falkland Islands Assembly Assembl Assembl Hotel3, Government, to represent the y y Ross National Assembly for Wales at the Road, commemorations of the 30th Stanley Anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands

Your request has been considered according to the principles set out in the Code of Practice on Public Access to Information. The code is published on our website at http://www.assemblywales.org/abthome/about_us- commission_assembly_administration/abt-foi/abt-foi-cop-pub.htm If you have any questions regarding this response please contact me. If you feel you have cause for complaint, please follow the guidance at the end of this letter.

Yours sincerely

Alison Rutherford Access to Information Coordinator National Assembly for Wales

Cause for concern or complaint with your FOI response?

If you believe that I have not applied the Code correctly or have not followed the relevant laws, you may make a formal complaint to the Chief Executive and Clerk at the National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay. Details of the Assembly’s complaints principles are set out in the Code of Practice on Complaints available on the Internet at http://www.assemblywales.org/conhome/con-complaint.htm. Please advise me if you wish to receive a printed copy.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF

Alison Rutherford Access to Information Coordinator National Assembly for Wales