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Top official in foreign trips row Top official in foreign trips row
(20 minutes later)
The head of a government spending watchdog has made 43 foreign visits over the last three years costing taxpayers £336,000, it has emerged.The head of a government spending watchdog has made 43 foreign visits over the last three years costing taxpayers £336,000, it has emerged.
Details of visits by Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, were released after a Freedom of Information request by Private Eye magazine.Details of visits by Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, were released after a Freedom of Information request by Private Eye magazine.
Sir John, who was accompanied by his wife on 22 of the visits, went to 11 countries last year and 15 in 2005.Sir John, who was accompanied by his wife on 22 of the visits, went to 11 countries last year and 15 in 2005.
The NAO said his role involved raising "global standards of accountability".The NAO said his role involved raising "global standards of accountability".
So far this year, Sir John has made five trips so far including a three-day stay in Warsaw, Poland.So far this year, Sir John has made five trips so far including a three-day stay in Warsaw, Poland.
A former Ministry of Defence official, he became the NAO's Comptroller and Auditor General in 1988. Last year he visited 11 nations, including the Bahamas and United States while in 2005 he journeyed to 15 countries including South Africa, Brazil and New Zealand.
Last March, he was appointed to advise ministers on issues relating to whether their private interests created a conflict with their ministerial duties under the ministerial code of conduct. A former Ministry of Defence official, Sir John became the NAO's Comptroller and Auditor General in 1988.
'Global standards''Global standards'
Last March, he was appointed to advise ministers on issues relating to whether their private interests created a conflict with their ministerial duties under the ministerial code of conduct.
He was also given the authority, if necessary, to conduct inquiries to establish the facts behind any allegation of a breach of the code.He was also given the authority, if necessary, to conduct inquiries to establish the facts behind any allegation of a breach of the code.
An NAO spokesman said: "The travel undertaken by Sir John is always on official National Audit Office business and is part of our international work to raise global standards of accountability."An NAO spokesman said: "The travel undertaken by Sir John is always on official National Audit Office business and is part of our international work to raise global standards of accountability."
He said Sir John had never extended the trips for personal purposes. He added that the NAO's work brought in £4 million a year for the Treasury.He said Sir John had never extended the trips for personal purposes. He added that the NAO's work brought in £4 million a year for the Treasury.