To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. (187538)

Senior staff at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) claimed £204,426.17 in reimbursable expenses during the period 31 January 2007 to 1 February 2008.

These claims cover travel and subsistence expenses incurred in the course of official business by senior staff based in the United Kingdom within the conditions laid down in Section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code. Expenditure on expenses incurred by senior staff serving overseas is reimbursed locally and not recorded centrally.