An MP's survey has revealed that over £50,000 has been spent on the "red boxes" used by government ministers over the past few years.

Of the departments which responded, the DTI – now BERR– spent the most at £13,337.50 for 18 boxes.

The total amount spent between May 2002 and May 2007 was £57,260.05, according to a collection of answers to questions and Freedom of Information requests submitted by Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming.

Prices of the boxes, which are used to store government papers securely, ranged from £385 to £750 each. Every minister is entitled to red boxes, which weigh up to 30lbs and are built to withstand most accidents.

MONEY SPENT ON RED BOXES 2002-7:

• Transport - £8,853
• DWP - £6,588
• Defra - £1,500
• DCLG - £7,420
• Scotland - £1,620
• DCMS - £1,598
• DTI - £13,337.50
• Innovation - none
• Foreign Office - £6,990
• Wales - none
• Treasury - £1,899
• Defence - £6,108
• DFID- £1,346.55

They have been made the same way for centuries - a wooden base covered in roan deer leather, or cloth. The cost varies, depending on size and finish. 

A spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said, with seven ministers, it had one of the biggest teams of all departments.

"The number of boxes ordered by this department reflects the fact that it has one of the broadest remits - and therefore one of the largest ministerial teams in Whitehall," she said.

The next highest spender, according to the results, was Communities and Local Government at £7,420 for eight boxes.

The Foreign Office had bought more, but spent less, although it only had figures from 2004, since when it had bought 15 boxes at a total cost of £6,990.

The lowest spending department was the Wales Office, which has only two ministers now many powers are devolved and hasn't ordered any new boxes in five years.

Hemming asked how many boxes had been bought, at what cost and what tendering process had been used, as part of his campaign to get ministers to answer factual questions.

"It's quite a serious problem because it's one of the reasons you end up having so many disasters in government, because they just hide problems rather than getting them fixed."

The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice both used the same section of the Freedom of Information Act to justify not responding.

The Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly education) replied that they ordered boxes "as and when they are needed", but failed to say how many.

The Cabinet Office said it had only "partial records" and the "specific information requested for the last five years could only be provided at disproportionate cost". The Home Office also said it would cost too much, as not all records were "readily accessible".