The SNP's John Mason questioned what the cost would be but was not given an answer. There was also no real answer to the question of why so many people were required to go. Nor why any lessons could not be learned by using technology rather than physically having to go there.

He said later, "I am not against foreign trips if they serve a useful purpose. But in this day and age much information can be obtained from DVDs, the internet, written reports, etc. I fail to understand why 4 people need to go. But worst of all councillors should not have been asked to approve the trip without budgeted costs being made available."

SNP & LibDem councillors voted to postpone a decision until more information was available but Labour outvoted them by 11 votes to 3.