You might as well table these questions to a brick wall

Sir Teddy Taylor

Sir Teddy Taylor said he failed to get satisfactory answers from government departments when he asked for details of spending on foreign travel.

Each government department told Sir Teddy that they do not hold such information centrally and were unable to provide him with precise details.

'Public scandal'

But Sir Teddy labelled the lack of information as a public scandal.

"It is a public scandal that the poor old taxpayer, who forks out the money, has to remain in the dark on how that money is spent.

"It is arrogance of a high order."

Sir Teddy had asked every government department for details of the travel costs of all UK and overseas visits undertaken by ministers in recent years.

Sir Teddy: This is a public scandal

He requested information on who accompanied ministers, how much was spent on charter flights and what the bill was for first class and club class airline tickets.

Of the 17 replies he has received so far, each say: "Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost."

Sir Teddy suggested that Labour may have something to hide since similar information was provided by governments in the past.

"We have been given these figures in previous years without any trouble. Why not now? Have they something to hide?

"I understand that more and more ministers are travelling first class, but they refuse to tell us.

"The government is erecting a brick wall of silence, which certainly makes one suspicious as to their motives.

"In fact, you might as well table these questions to a brick wall, judging by the satisfaction that you get.

"It makes you wonder what the point is of being an MP," he said.

'Not good enough'

He dismissed department claims that they did not have the information to hand.

"You can't tell me that government departments don't keep a detailed record of these journeys."

Ministers have told Sir Teddy that they are planning to publish an annual list of visits by cabinet ministers costing more than �500.

The government is also working on plans to produce an annual figure of the cost of overseas visits by all ministers.

"That is simply not good enough," said Sir Teddy.

"They should be prepared to give details of all visits, home and overseas, not simply a global figure."

The Rochford and Southend East MP pledged to continue to press departments for details.

"I shall continue to press for this information, but I don't hold out much hope now that open government appears to be no more than a joke."