To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on travel in each year since 1997.

[Official Report, 23 June 2009, Vol. 494, c. 788W.]

Letter of correction from Mr. Chris Bryant:

Errors have been identified in the table in my written answer to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) on 23 June 2009.

The correct answer should have been: (273678)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent the following amounts on overseas and UK travel in each of the last five financial years. Until 2006-07 FCO Services travel was accounted for under the FCO. From 2007-08 FCO Services costs are accounted for separately and therefore are not included in the table.

The year on year increases in travel costs are largely due to increases in fuel costs over the period affecting ticket prices.

Obtaining information on costs of travel before this period would incur disproportionate cost.