Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many awaydays his Department has held for (a) senior and (b) other civil servants in (i) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and how much each such awayday cost.

Away days are working days where staff get together to share best practices and experiences. Departments use away days to set objectives and decide how they will help the FCO achieve its priorities of protecting national security, creating jobs and economic growth and providing the best support for British people overseas. Details on costs are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, but departments are required keep costs to a minimum.