Ministers' rugby trip cost £44,000

More than £44,000 was spent on sending two ministers to Australia for the Rugby World Cup, it has emerged.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn was the first to travel out but had to return for a knife-edge Commons vote on foundation hospitals.

Mr Caborn was reported at the time to be furious at having to return to Britain ahead of the cup final for the vote, which the Government narrowly won.

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Tessa Jowell travelled out after the vote and was present for England's tournament winning performance in November.

In a Commons written reply, Ms Jowell told shadow secretary of state Julie Kirkbride that it cost £44,161 for the visits of two ministers and officials to Australia.