How much do trips away cost?

I know that would never happen because it would be political suicide and guarantee the end of his career.

It is just wrong for some to be able to come up with excuses, and then spend whatever the going rate happens to be in pursuit of whether the hare-brained idea would be achievable. It's wide open to abuse and will continue to be abused until transparency is in place to prevent it.

Well then, Kevin Stewart?

I won't hold my breath on this.

JON,

via guernseypress.com.

Editor's footnote: Deputy Kevin Stewart, the Commerce and Employment minister, replies:

'Firstly, this was not a letter, but an anonymous posting from the Guernsey Press website. I have posted my phone number on previous occasions and invited contributors to call me to discuss States matters. I've had no calls so far, as more often than not these are just cheap jibes rather than considered, genuine questions.

As many of the constituents and businesses that I have spoken to acknowledge, it is essential that the States of Guernsey protects and promotes the economy by engaging with its neighbours and trading partners.

As part of my role on the External Relations Group, I am asked to represent the States of Guernsey at a variety of meetings outside the island, pursuant to the Policy Council's mandate. I am only one member of the Policy Council and am not the only member to undertake this sort of activity. However, it is not surprising that, given my Commerce and Employment work includes economic development (including the finance sector, the creative industries, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, growing, renewable energy, retail and e-commerce, among other things), I have been involved in some meetings to promote trade and investment within Guernsey further afield, such as the meetings held in China, which attract greater media attention. Considered networking, lobbying and relationship-building, both by politicians and business, in my view, is imperative to business growth and sustainability.

Each of these meetings has been organised following an assessment of its objective as well as an assessment of the cost and benefit of attending. Travel costs are reduced by ensuring meetings are amalgamated to get maximum use of any time spent off-island at minimum cost. I don't recall ever having travelled off-island to attend only one meeting. To suggest that any travel arrangements are made without such analysis, or to suggest that every invitation to attend a meeting is accepted, would be wholly incorrect.

In order to help inform the public of this work, the Policy Council regularly publishes activity reports to inform States members and the public of external relations work undertaken outside of Guernsey. An activity report covering the last four months of 2013, and the overall costs for 2013, is due to be published in the coming weeks.

I have a busy diary working full-time for the States of Guernsey and to suggest that there is anything improper in my conduct is, to quote your anonymous contributor, "hare-brained".'