Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the transparency data entitled DCMS: Ministerial travel, 1 July to 30 September 2023, published on 15 December 2023, how much and what proportion of the £17,601.43 cost of the trip to Sydney between 17 August and 21 August 2023 was spent on air travel.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Secretary of State’s trip to Australia was to represent the UK Government at the FIFA Women's World Cup, supporting the Lionesses in the final, as well as undertaking a number of engagements to support the UK's culture sector.
The cost of her return flight from London to Sydney was £11,845.41.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the transparency data entitled DCMS: Ministerial travel, 1 July to 30 September 2023, published on 15 December 2023, how much and what proportion of the £8,046 cost of the trip to Sydney by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society between 24 July and 2 August 2023 was spent on air travel.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I flew to Sydney to support the England team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
As well as attending the England vs. Denmark match, I promoted the Government’s ongoing commitment to women and girls sport and physical activity. I championed the UK’s leading reputation in equality and human rights by attending a Gender Equality Symposium, and met with LGBT+ organisations, such as Pride in Sport.
I also promoted the UK's expertise in hosting major sporting events ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics by meeting with representatives from Brisbane 2032, alongside members of Brisbane’s City Council.
The cost of my return flight from Manchester to Sydney was £6,777.97. As part of my ministerial duties during my trip, I also travelled to Brisbane from Sydney. The cost of the return internal flight from Sydney to Brisbane was £336.80.
Asked by: Alistair Strathern (Labour - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the transparency data entitled DCMS: Ministerial hospitality, 1 July to 30 September 2023, published on 15 December 2023, who gifted the tickets on 9 July 2023; and what the event was.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The tickets were gifted from Silverstone, and the event was the British Grand Prix.
This information was provided in the Secretary of State’s transparency return through the normal declaration process. However, due to a technical error it was not published on the GOV.UK website.