§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of hotel accommodation for departmental staff working away from home in each of the last four years. [41071]
§ Angela EagleThe estimated costs of hotel accommodation for staff working away from home are contained in the table:
Year Cost £ 1998–99 28,220 1999–2000 249,462 2000–01 504,815 2001–021 685,818 1 To date Fully accurate information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The increase in expenditure is largely due to the expansion of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the activities carried out by the National Asylum Support Service which has necessitated increased travelling for staff and stays away from home. It had been anticipated and included in budgets. A programme of regional recruitment is under way to manage down the number of staff who are posted to areas that require hotel stays.