Figures for the Department’s expenditure on (a) car hire, (b) train travel, (c) air travel and (d) hotels for the last three years is tabled as follows. Figures for earlier years could be extracted only at disproportionate cost.
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Car hire 695,296 658,041 576,085 Rail 1,308,768 909,396 1,126,261 Air 597,311 213,009 280,295 Hotel 543,295 437,868 326,322 Total 3,144,670 2,218,314 2,308,963
Figures for Ministers could be disaggregated from these totals only at disproportionate cost.
Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and the “Civil Service Management Code” respectively, and all spending on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in “Managing Public Money”.
Later this year the Department will begin releasing the details of business expenses and hospitality received by senior officials. These will be published on our website on a quarterly basis.
The Cabinet Office also publish an annual list of overseas travel over £500 undertaken by Ministers. The 2008-09 list can be viewed at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers/travel_gifts.aspx