To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for (a) Ministers and (b) officials while overseas in each of the last three years. (294693)

Providing information on the cost of accommodation overseas could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Overseas trips undertaken by Ministers and costing more than £500 are published annually at:

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

The list for 2008-09 was published on 16 July 2009. Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code” and the “Civil Service Management Code” respectively.