To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's policy is on holding departmental away days at locations other than departmental premises. (268467)

The Ministry of Justice does not hold a specific policy for holding departmental away days at locations other than departmental premises.

All spending on away days is completed in line with the Finance Policy Manual, which is in line with HM Treasury Guidance on Managing Public Money, and states the following for away days and team building events:

“These occasional events are organised to develop working relationships and achieve Departmental objectives. They are acceptable as long as the event can be justified as good value for money and can demonstrate development achievements. Costs should be reasonable and comparable to the status of the event”.

Across the MOJ staff are looking at ways to get best value for money and make savings, this includes local changes to ways of working which managers are putting in place. Wherever possible, taking into account room availability, size and flexibility, managers are using MOJ, or other public sector buildings, for planning and team meetings and away days rather than using external venues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and which organisations provided such training. (268549)

Ministers in the Ministry of Justice (formerly the Department for Constitutional Affairs) have not undertaken any media training within the last three years.