The Home Office spent around £600,000 putting up staff in some of the world's most luxury hotels, the Sun has revealed. Information uncovered by Shadow Treasury Secretary, Rachel Reeves, shows that Home Office staff have enjoyed stays in exclusive hotels across the Caribbean, the Middle East, North Africa and the USA, all at taxpayers' expense.
The findings included £2,300 spent at the four-star Hyatt Regency in Trinidad in February and £650 spent at the four-star Accra Beach Hotel and Spa in Barbados, one of the island's most popular hotels. Home Office civil servants also enjoyed stays in the four-star Villa Mandarine in Rabat, Morocco at a cost of £1,900, the four-star Qamardeen in Dubai at a cost of £825 and the four-star Royal Sonesta in Boston, USA at a cost of £860.
Responding to the findings, the Home Office insist that "all expenses are closely scrutinised". But the evidence suggests they should look a bit harder for savings. Clearly the Home Office could have stayed in more affordable accommodation. The Home Office need to ensure the best value for taxpayers' money by tightening the controls on expenses claims.
The Home Office spent around £600,000 putting up staff in some of the world's most luxury hotels, the Sun has revealed. Information uncovered by Shadow Treasury Secretary, Rachel Reeves, shows that Home Office staff have enjoyed stays in exclusive hotels across the Caribbean, the Middle East, North Africa and the USA, all at taxpayers' expense.The findings included £2,300 spent at the four-star Hyatt Regency in Trinidad in February and £650 spent at the four-star Accra Beach Hotel and Spa in Barbados, one of the island's most popular hotels. Home Office civil servants also enjoyed stays in the four-star Villa Mandarine in Rabat, Morocco at a cost of £1,900, the four-star Qamardeen in Dubai at a cost of £825 and the four-star Royal Sonesta in Boston, USA at a cost of £860.
Responding to the findings, the Home Office insist that "all expenses are closely scrutinised". But the evidence suggests they should look a bit harder for savings. Clearly the Home Office could have stayed in more affordable accommodation. The Home Office need to ensure the best value for taxpayers' money by tightening the controls on expenses claims.