To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 400W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on Valuation Office: visits abroad, how many staff visited each country; and at what cost; (151199)

One member of staff attended conferences in Canada, New Zealand, USA and Australia. All costs were met by the conference organisers or by staff members. Four members of staff attended a conference in Lithuania. The total cost to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) was £2,000. The Agency has also seconded staff to Australia. The cost to the VOA from 1 January 2007 was £8,481.