To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library details of all transactions recorded by his Department under the Catering and Hospitality expenses types in the calendar year 2013 including (a) copies of invoices and (b) proof of payment, including date of payment.

holding answer 11 February 2014

I am placing in the Library of the House, a copy of the recent letter by the permanent secretary to the right hon. Member in response to his letter on the issue of recorded catering and hospitality spending. It notes how the recent media claims on this issue were incorrect and based on factually. inaccurate research. A detailed and accurate listing of our spending is available on our website.

The right hon. Member may wish to encourage his researchers and/or the Labour party to take up an Excel training course from Parliamentary ICT Training to avoid future mistakes and spurious claims.