To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on furniture made by (a) British firms, (b) Remploy and (c) overseas firms since it was established. (244349)

The Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created as a result of Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. Therefore, details regarding expenditure prior to this date are not available.

In 2007-08, the Department spent £554,000 on furniture and fittings. All furniture purchased in 2007-08 was supplied by British companies. All of this furniture was manufactured in the United Kingdom, except a batch of chairs costing some £10,000 which were manufactured in the United States of America. No furniture purchased by the Department was manufactured by Remploy.

All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.