PM: $48k two-week trip is fine

Speaker Lockwood Smith’s wife is accompanying MPs on the annual Speaker’s tour because she has a ‘‘representational role’’. The tour’s cost includes business class airfares to Europe and $48,000 on hotel bills and incidentals in a twoweek sweep of Britain, Belgium, and Croatia.

As well as four MPs and Dr Smith’s wife, Alexandra, his secretary is also on the trip.

Prime Minister John Key said the MPs were expected to be ‘‘cautious’’ about what they spent – but he didn’t have a problem with the total bill. ‘‘It’s worth remembering the Government spends $71 billion a year, so small expenditure in linking our democracies with others makes sense.’’