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<p>Regarding the first payment for £4,363, although the payment is listed on 7 November
2022, that is, in fact, the date the final transaction was settled by the Cabinet
Office. The payment was made in October 2022 and relates to ten members of staff who
were supporting the delivery of events in relation to the funeral of Her late Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II as part of a 24-hour government secretariat.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Regarding
the second payment for £1,743.44, again the payment date listed is the date the transaction
was cleared from the Cabinet Office system. The payment was made in November and relates
to two individuals accommodation for 5 nights in London w/c 5th December 2022. These
staff were supporting the delivery of an Learning & Development event for senior
civil servants as part of the Leadership College for Government offer for permanent
secretaries, directors general and equivalents, called the Civil Service Leadership
Group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is a central contract in place for travel
booking including an e-platform in order to provide easy price comparison, payment
processing and reporting for staff travel and subsistence driving value for money
for taxpayers. Occasionally it is necessary for staff to conduct separate searches
for accommodation providers, to continue to achieve the best value during market driven
surge pricing such as around major events.</p><p> </p>
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