HE Home Office was blasted last night after its taxi bill soared an incredible 30-FOLD to nearly Pounds 1million.

The Home Office taxi bill rose from Pounds 30,000 to Pounds 900,000 in the last ten years, figures obtained by the Conservatives show.

Spending on hotels and flights by Whitehall pen-pushers has also rocketed.

Tories said they were stunned by the increase and demanded an explanation from MPs.

Hotel bills rose to Pounds 5.5million. Overseas hotel costs shot from Pounds 1.6million in 2004-05 to Pounds 4.3million last year. UK hotel bills increased from NOTHING to Pounds 1.2million over the same period.

The figures also show the air travel budget almost doubled from Pounds 1.4million in 2003-04 to Pounds 2.6million in 2007-08.

The Conservatives slammed the eye-watering costs at a time when "hard-pressed" cops were deprived of their 2.5 per cent pay award.

Shadow Home Office minister David Ruffley said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith should "get a grip" on "non-essential" expenditure.

The Home Office said it was trying to cut travel costs.