'Junket' to China costs taxpayer £7m

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is flying out for the closing ceremony, will be accompanied by 20 aides at a cost of £114,000, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Many bodies involved in organising the 2012 London games are sending representatives, with London Mayor Boris Johnson taking 13 staff at a reported £167,000, while the London Development Agency has spent £3million to hire a private members' club.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, Sport Minister Gerry Sutcliffe and 10 Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials will attend the Games at a £75,000 cost. Another 11 Whitehall ministers and officials will visit.

In total, 639 people at a cost of £6,846,700 will attend, the majority BBC staff involved in the broadcaster's coverage of the games.

Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster said: "Questions have to be asked. I'm staggered by the amount of money some departments are spending."

A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Brown's staff "worked hard to ensure the appropriate number accompany him".