- 17 V. VISITS a) Countries visited 52. At its first meeting (13-16 November 1989) the CPT decided that in 1990 it would carry out periodic visits to two large countries (i.e. large from the point of view of population rather than territory) and three countries with smaller populations. The countries were chosen by lot, for the reasons indicated above (see paragraphs 18 and 19). Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as Austria, Denmark and Malta, were selected. 53. At the same meeting the Committee requested its Bureau to make proposals at the CPT's next meeting concerning possible ad hoc visits. At the next meeting (22-26 January 1990) the CPT unanimously accepted the Bureau's proposal that an ad hoc visit to Turkey be carried out in 1990. 54. Due to organisational constraints, and more particularly the limited resources of the CPT's Secretariat, the Committee subsequently decided to postpone the visit to Spain to 1991. Consequently, in 1990, it carried out five visits, four periodic (to Austria, from 20 to 27 May 1990; Malta, from 1 to 9 July 1990; the United Kingdom, from 29 July to 10 August 1990; and Denmark, from 1 to 8 December 1990) and one ad hoc (to Turkey, from 9 to 21 September 1990). b) Visiting delegations 55. The CPT decided in early 1990 that delegations going to large countries should consist of five Committee members, plus one or two experts, two members of the Secretariat, and if necessary an appropriate number of interpreters. For visits to small countries, delegations should consist of three to four Committee members, plus one expert, one or two members of the Secretariat, plus interpreters as required. 56. The Convention provides that "as a general rule, the visits shall be carried out by at least two members of the Committee "(Article 7, paragraph 2). The CPT considered that it would be preferable for a number of reasons to have more than two members in each delegation. Firstly, it was felt important to give as many members as possible first-hand experience of the visiting process as soon as possible. Even more importantly, a delegation of four or five members accompanied by experts has the capacity to split into two or more sub-groups, thereby increasing significantly the amount of ground that can be covered in the time available (see further, paragraph 60). 57. The Bureau made proposals to the plenary Committee regarding the composition of the delegations, after duly consulting individual Committee members and taking into account the likely particular needs as regards each visit. As already indicated (see paragraph 20), it was agreed that no Committee member would serve on the delegation visiting the country in respect of which he or she was elected.