To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the practice of holding departmental away days outside the Department's buildings. (268539)

Departmental awaydays are held at buildings other than those on the Department's estate when this is justified by business need.

The Department's ‘Code of Business Conduct’, which all staff must comply with, makes it clear that departmental officials should avoid providing hospitality at non-business locations unless there is a clear need to do so. The code also stresses that any hospitality provided should be modest and necessary for the effective discharge of the Department's business.