To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the North West in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary’s letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008. (267159)

Since guidance was issued by the Cabinet Secretary on 2 December 2008, the permanent secretary has not authorised any expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the North West. Prior to that, the Department paid transport costs for the parliamentary assistant to attend an event in November in the Minister’s place when she was unable to attend due to parliamentary business.