To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the Parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the North East in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary’s letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008. (267160)

The role of Minister for the North East is within the portfolio of my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend (Mr. Brown), who is assisted in those duties by my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods). The duties and responsibilities of the Minister for the North East are not matters for the Treasury. I can confirm though that my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods) has met her own travel costs and no claims for expenditure on travel have been submitted.