To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of overnight accommodation for (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) Ministers in his Department staying overnight in (i) mainland Great Britain, (ii) Northern Ireland, (iii) the Republic of Ireland and (iv) other countries in the last 12 months. (193527)

Expenditure on hotel and other privately provided accommodation is not held separately or by the categories requested in the Department’s accounting system. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 1 May 1997 to 31 March 2007 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2007-08 will be published after the end of the current financial year.

All travel is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.