To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many overseas visits by officials in his Department took place in each of the last 10 years; which countries were visited; and how much was spent on such visits in each such year. (181590)

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.