To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) staff and (b) Ministerial away days have been organised by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the cost of such events was in each year. (266212)

The Scotland Office held one staff away day in 2005-06 and one in 2006-07. Information on the costs prior to 2006-07 are not separately identifiable; however, in 2006-07 the total cost of the staff away day was £6,834. No ministerial away days have been held in the last five years.