To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by his Department on (a) first class and (b) business flights in the last 12 months. (153082)

The Department's expenditure on first class flights in the last 12 months was £9,946.

The Department's expenditure on business class flights in the last 12 months was £463,723.

These figures consist of air travel booked via the Departments contracted agent. There are some exceptional cases where air travel is booked outside of the contract but these cannot be identified separately without incurring disproportionate costs.

All travel within the Department is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.