Bill for Cameron trips revealed

David Cameron's trips to New York, Brazil, and Afghanistan last summer cost more than £530,000, it has been revealed.

The details emerged in the latest batch of transparency data disclosed by Downing Street.

Under Whitehall rules, ministers must declare all gifts worth more than £140. Unless they choose to pay for items out of their own pocket, they are usually stored away by officials.

Mr Cameron received a porcelain ornament from Russian prime minister Dmitri Medvedev in July, and the following month a rug from Afghan president Hamid Karzai and a vase from the King of Bahrain.

In September JCB mogul Sir Anthony handed the premier what is described as a "silver model", which was held by the Cabinet Office along with all the other items.

The bill for Mr Cameron's travel and accommodation on a visit to Afghanistan in July came in at just £4,060.

But his four-day trip to New York for a UN meeting, and then Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro drumming up trade cost £532,093.

The details reveal that the Prime Minister met senior figures from the Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Sun, the Independent and the Mail on Sunday as Lord Justice Leveson finalised his report on standards and regulatory reform.

He also held "general discussions" with Vodafone in July and Starbucks in September, as the firms faced a backlash over their tax affairs.

 
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