To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on hotel accommodation for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in each of the last five years. (305672)

Following a machinery of government change the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was formed in June 2009. The following figures relate to the Departments before the merger.

The amount spent by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on hotel accommodation for in each of the last five years was:

The figures include Department of Trade and Industry spend until it was disbanded in June 2007.

The amount spent by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills on hotel accommodation since it was formed in 2007 was:

Travel by Ministers, civil servants and special advisers are undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively.

The Department does not separately record overnight accommodation from that of officials—to provide this information would entail disproportionate costs.

Cabinet Office provides an annual list of overseas travel over £500 undertaken by Ministers. These can be accessed at

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

The list for 2008-09 was published on 16 July. This and earlier lists are available in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many separate bookings for stays at five star or above hotels were made through the Expotel contract by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and at what cost. (315262)

Following a machinery of government change the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was formed in June 2009. The following figures include former BERR and DIUS before the merger.

Wherever possible Expotel will book accommodation within indicative rates set by the Department; this may include five star hotels which have special offers available and fall within these rates.

All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook.