Robin Cook on the defensive

The item under scrutiny is a large oval table bought for the European Summit in Cardiff later this month.

Foreign Affairs Committee member David Wilshire pointed out to the foreign secretary that he could have saved £44,500 if he had purchased a £4,500 conference table from a catalogue regularly sent to MPs.

Mr Cook defended the £50,000 choice of furniture saying it was "not just a table" as it included audio, messaging and interpreting equipment.

He insisted the conference table would seat 49 ministers at a cost of £1,000 a person - a third less than the one bought by the Conservative government when the UK was EU president six years ago.

"It can be used in the Foreign Office thereafter and will be of permanent use," he told the committee.

Although Mr Cook did not personally authorise the purchase of the table, he strongly defended the decision to spend the money. "Since I thoroughly approve of the table, I have to say I approved it," he said.

A specialist furniture company in Kent is putting the finishing touches to the American white oak veneer table which has purple steel legs and wiring for translation equipment.