Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many nights were spent in hotels by Departmental staff in financial year 2024-25 by the star rating of the hotel.

DWP policy is clear that a hotel may only be booked for clear business reasons and with approval from the staff member’s manager. The policy also puts limits on the cost of hotels, which naturally excludes premium hotels.

The total number nights spent in hotels in 2024/25 was 73,893. Information on hotel star rating is not routinely recorded in our system, but any stays must comply with the relevant departmental cost limit.