More than £2m of taxpayers' money has been spent on VIP airport suites for foreign dignitaries, it has been revealed.
New figures show the outlay of £2.4m by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) between 2010 and 2014.
Just over £2m of the money went on giving visiting foreign dignitaries VIP services at airports, while more than £100,000 was spent on the Foreign Secretary using them.
The response to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request that contained the figures also said the Foreign Secretary was the only individual associated with the FCO who used VIP facilities when travelling on business.
William Hague held the position from May 2010 until July this year.
Most of the FCO's spending on VIP airport facilities was for visits by foreign heads of state and other dignitaries.
There were two state visits in each of the four years, while 52 were classed as "guest of government", five were described as "events" and a total of 104 were "official visits".
The FOI response, which was posted on the FCO website, said: "In November 2012 we reviewed our position on the use of VIP suites and as a result moved away from part owning the Heathrow Royal Suite to becoming a contracted customer for private flights.
"This represented better value for money and greater freedom to use other facilities. Our contract with Heathrow Airport Limited costs the FCO £100,000 per annum, in return for 50 private flight movements with exclusive rights to the suite whenever required."
The figures showed that overall spending by the FCO on using airport VIP lounges was almost halved in 2013/14 compared to the previous year.
The totals in each year were £689,233 in 2010/11, £743,621.76 in 2011/12, £620,433 in 2012/13 and £326,694 in 2013/14.
The Heathrow VIP website says departing guests enjoy an "oasis of calm" in a private lounge before being chauffeur driven directly to the aircraft.
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