Blair paid for trip, No 10 says

The Blairs stayed with Mr Perrin for five days in 2002

Downing Street has said that Prime Minister Tony Blair is paying for the family holiday he is on in Egypt.

The disclosure comes after questions over a previous break in France two years ago Mr Blair did not declare.

Officials at No 10 had earlier refused to disclose any information about his current holiday in Egypt.

But a spokesman said on Tuesday: "As with previous years when he has stayed in Egypt the prime minister is paying for his accommodation."

Caused controversy

Mr Blair caused controversy three years ago when his family stayed in the Red Sea resort of Sharm-el-Sheik at the Egyptian taxpayers' expense.

Since then he has paid for two visits.

Mr Blair faces further questioning from Parliament's ethics watchdog over why did not declare a holiday at the French home of leading tobacco industry figure, Alain Dominique Perrin in 2002.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer, wrote to the prime minister about the break after Tory MP Chris Grayling complained that it had not been declared in the MPs' register of interests.

The Commons rules state that an MP is required to disclose any information of any "material benefit which ... might reasonably be thought by others to influence his or her actions, speeches or votes".

Downing Street said Mr Blair would reply to Sir Philip "in due course".