To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on (a) chartering aircraft and (b) non-scheduled air travel in each of the last five years. (96220)

According to our records my Department spent £22,000 on chartering private aircraft in 2003 with no expenditure in any of the other years.

We have no record of any expenditure on non-scheduled air travel for the period in question.

In respect of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Where non-scheduled aircraft are used this is shown in the list. Information for 2005/06 was published on 24 July 2006. Copies of the lists are available in the Library for the reference of Members.

All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the ministerial code and travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library for the reference of Members. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the civil service management code, a copy of which is also available in the Library for the reference of Members.