CULTURE Secretary Andy Burnham yesterday defended his department over allegations it had squandered taxpayers’ money on a lavish reception for business leaders in Liverpool.

Around 20 people, including Culture Supremo Phil Redmond, Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan were on the guest list for a £62,000 dinner party at the Carriageworks, Hope Street, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Mr Burnham told MPs the event was the launch of an international group “to promote Britain as the natural home of the creative industries”.

When the issue was raised at Commons question time he said that he was “proud” of Britain’s strength in the arts and media sector.

The event, held last November, was the inaugural meeting of C&binet – the creativity and business international network – which its website says “links the international creative and commercial communities to inspire new ideas and opportunities”. Attended by Mr Burnham and moderated by Newsnight Review presenter Martha Kearney, topics included “the impact of the credit crunch on creative business” against a background of “current global economic challenges”.