 In September 2008 the magazine published a special report, 'The Bourn Complicity', alleging that under his leadership numerous government expenditure failings escaped scrutiny while Bourn (frequently accompanied by his wife) went on unnecessary and extravagant foreign trips, and accepted lavish hospitality from contractors.Freedom of Information Act requests show that, in the three years to March 2007, Bourn made 43 overseas visits; "Private Eye" claimed this was far more than the revenue generated would justify, and that in many cases more junior staff should have gone instead; on 22 of these trips, Bourn was accompanied by his wife.He claimed £336,000 in travel expenses in addition to his £164,430 salary, while staying almost exclusively in five star hotels, while flying exclusively first class on long haul and business class on shorter visits.