Member News
The details of government spending have been released today as the coalition pushed ahead with its transparency agenda.
Among the revelations in an itemised list of expenditure was a £26,000 bill for training staff at the Cabinet Office to have "difficult conversations".
All spending of more than £25,000 made between May and September has been published, although some departments, including communities and local government have released spending over £500.
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude described the disclosure of government spending above £25,000 as "revolutionary" and urged the public to hold the coalition's "feet to the fire" by pointing out waste.
People are being encouraged to go through the online information to highlight waste and hold ministers to account.
Maude, chair for the new Public Sector Transparency Board, said: "It is our ambition to make the UK the most transparent and accountable government in the world.
"This will not always be easy but we expect the public to hold our feet to the fire and make sure that not a penny of their money is wasted."
He added that from now on, details of government spending about £25,000 will be released monthly.
Among the wealth of trivia revealed in the information is that the Attorney General's office splashed £26,475 on Perspex desk divider screens in May.
In August the Cabinet Office paid out £25,200 for a survey of Civil Service staff.
The department also spent £95,161 in May to the House of Commons for the public duty cost allowance for former prime ministers.
And the Wales Office spent £28,390 on ministerial car hire in June.
However, Cabinet Office staff stressed that many of the costs would have incurred under the Labour administration due to the time lag for invoices to be presented and paid.
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