10 Jun 2010

Questions over spending by MFAT

8:30 am on 10 June 2010

A Labour MP is questioning why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade spent $10 million on consultants and contractors in nine months.

Papers obtained by Labour under the Official Information Act show the spending included nearly $500,000 on chillers for the embassy in Saudi Arabia, and almost $100,000 to refurbish a swimming pool in Tonga.

Grant Robertson MP says he questions the spending when other Government departments have been told to tighten their belts.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says says MFAT has not been given special treatment and he will hold the ministry to account for any inappropriate expenditure.