Top civil servants have reportedly claimed millions of pounds in expenses - prompting Government pledges to investigate whether any rules were broken.
Top civil servants claimed for luxury items like expensive wines, reports said
High-ranking officials have access to government procurement cards to pay for work-related costs like food and travel bills.
But there has been an increase in amounts claimed on the cards, the Daily Mail said.
Thousands of senior public sector workers have claimed for luxury items like expensive bottles of wine, fine dining and long taxi journeys, the paper continued.
A cabinet office spokeswoman said: "Any expenditure claimed by civil servants in the course of their business comes under strict guidance and any evidence that these rules have been broken would be investigated.
"Government departments are committed to publishing, on a quarterly basis, details of expenses incurred by the most senior civil servants."
The paper reported that enviroment agency (EA) chief executive Paul Leinater claimed more than ?30,000 from June 2008 to March 2009.
An EA spokeswoman said: "The majority of expenses paid for by Paul Leinater are attributable to travel and hotels.
"Paul regularly works late in London and other locations, attending professional functions and meetings in the evening.
"He also visits many of the Environment Agency's offices that are spread between Head Office buildings in Bristol and the seven regions across England and in Wales.
"For this reason he often has to stay in a hotel several times a week and take long train journeys. Wherever possible, Paul uses the best value hotel."
She added that the EA published all expenses for board members and executive directors on a quarterly basis.
Government procurement cards were introduced to replace the old expenses system.
Top civil servants claimed for luxury items like expensive wines, reports saidHigh-ranking officials have access to government procurement cards to pay for work-related costs like food and travel bills.
But there has been an increase in amounts claimed on the cards, the Daily Mail said.
Thousands of senior public sector workers have claimed for luxury items like expensive bottles of wine, fine dining and long taxi journeys, the paper continued.
A cabinet office spokeswoman said: "Any expenditure claimed by civil servants in the course of their business comes under strict guidance and any evidence that these rules have been broken would be investigated.
"Government departments are committed to publishing, on a quarterly basis, details of expenses incurred by the most senior civil servants."
The paper reported that enviroment agency (EA) chief executive Paul Leinater claimed more than ?30,000 from June 2008 to March 2009.
An EA spokeswoman said: "The majority of expenses paid for by Paul Leinater are attributable to travel and hotels.
"Paul regularly works late in London and other locations, attending professional functions and meetings in the evening.
"He also visits many of the Environment Agency's offices that are spread between Head Office buildings in Bristol and the seven regions across England and in Wales.
"For this reason he often has to stay in a hotel several times a week and take long train journeys. Wherever possible, Paul uses the best value hotel."
She added that the EA published all expenses for board members and executive directors on a quarterly basis.
Government procurement cards were introduced to replace the old expenses system.
