Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to page 98 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, what the reasons are for the change in core department spending between 2012-13 and 2013-14 on (a) accommodation, (b) travel and subsistence and (c) training and non-staff pay costs.

During 2013-14 the Department acquired temporary rental accommodation in London to support a peak in staff numbers and the £560k listed in the Report represents lease costs for an additional building from November 2013. The increase in general accommodation costs is accounted for by the refurbishment of the new building, the rental of space from the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills, and a general increase in the costs of annual building maintenance and sustainability projects;

DECC’s work includes securing the nation’s future energy supplies, international negotiations and regulation of the oil and gas industry. Travel can be crucial to the Department’s business and is sometimes unavoidable. Any travel is for business purposes only and we are careful to ensure that the most cost-effective and suitable travel arrangements are identified. Expenditure depends on variations in business needs from year to year;

The amount spent on training and other non-pay staff costs varies from year to year and depends on changes in the number of staff, business requirements for training and the incidence of professional membership fees.