To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on (a) car hire, (b) air travel, (c) hotels and (d) restaurant meals for (i) Ministers and (ii) staff of his Department in each of the last five years. (290168)

Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code and the civil service management code respectively and all expenditure on air and rail travel has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

The amount spent on these expenses is not easily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The Cabinet Office publishes an annual list of overseas visits made by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 dating from 1997 onwards. Details on all Health Ministers overseas travel for 2008-09 can be found on the Cabinet Office website.

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers/travel_gifts.aspx

Details of business expenses and hospitality received by departmental senior officials on a quarterly basis will be published in October 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on travel by train for Ministers in each of the last five years. (291489)

Travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code and all expenditure on rail travel has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

The amount spent on rail travel is not easily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.