To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the permanent secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the South West in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008. (267157)

The permanent secretary has on one occasion (for travel on 26 January 2009) authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the South West in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to permanent secretaries of 2 December 2008. However, the journey did not take place and no cost was therefore incurred.