CAT/C/40/2 page 9 22. At the end of each visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the authorities in confidence. The Subcommittee wishes to thank the authorities of Mauritius, the Maldives and Sweden for the spirit in which its delegations’ initial observations were received and the constructive discussion about ways forward. At the end of the visit, the Subcommittee asked the authorities for feedback on the steps taken or being planned to address the issues raised in the preliminary observations. In addition, after each visit, the Subcommittee wrote to the authorities requesting updated information on any steps taken since the visit, on certain issues which could be or were due to be addressed in the weeks following it. The Subcommittee indicated that the immediate replies communicated by the authorities would be reflected in the visit report. 23. The drafting of the first visit report was begun in 2007. The process of its completion is taking longer than desired, owing to the staffing situation in the secretariat of the Subcommittee (see section V below). The authorities will be asked to respond in writing to the visit report; the Subcommittee hopes that, in due course, the authorities will request that the visit report and their response to it be published.20 Until such time, the visit reports remain confidential. IV. NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS A. Subcommittee work related to national preventive mechanisms 24. During its first year, the Subcommittee repeatedly made contact with all States parties who were due to establish or maintain national preventive mechanisms in order to encourage them to communicate with the Subcommittee about the ongoing process of developing those mechanisms. States parties to the Optional Protocol were requested to send detailed information concerning the establishment of mechanisms (such as legal mandate, composition, size, expertise, financial resources at their disposal and frequency of visits).21 By the third session of the Subcommittee in November 2007, only five States parties had provided such information. The Subcommittee decided to send a reminder letter to each State party upon expiration of the deadline for fulfilment of the obligation to establish national preventive mechanisms. 25. The Subcommittee was also in contact with a number of national preventive mechanisms and organizations, including national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations involved in the development of mechanisms. The initiative for such contacts came from both the Subcommittee and national preventive mechanisms, some of which asked the Subcommittee for assistance. The Subcommittee is considering how to fulfil its mandate in response to requests for assistance from mechanisms in the absence of any budgetary provision for this part of its mandate (see section VI below). 20 In accordance with Article 16,2 of the OPCAT. 21 Having regard to the elements identified in Articles 3, 4, 11, and 12 of OPCAT.