To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department are planning to attend the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such attendance. (310854)

Since 1999, the Government have published, on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. From 2007/08, the list was extended to include all Ministers. The list also provides information on the number of officials who accompany Ministers. Copies are available in the Libraries. Information for 2009/10 will be published as soon as the information is available.

All travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the ‘Ministerial Code’ and ‘Civil Service Management Code’, respectively.