The public body that oversees public transport in the West Midlands spent £13,942 of taxpayers’ money promoting itself at the Tory party conference, it was revealed today.

Figures obtained by campaign group the TaxPayers’ Alliance revealed that Centro spent the money on a stand and sending two councillors to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

Some of the money went on giving out free leather organisers and Belgian chocolates to delegates, the pressure group said.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed the hire of the exhibition stand itself cost £10,050, with “additional costs” running at £2,486.02.

A national newspaper’s website has also carried a blog from a Tory activist in which it was mentioned that she received an organiser and Belgian chocolates at the Centro stand.

Centro also sent two councillors and covered accommodation costs, hotel bills, passes and meals at a total of £956.06.

Fiona McEvoy, campaign agent for the West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance, said today: “Why should taxpayers shell out for a public body to lobby the Opposition and buy expensive gifts for Conservative Party delegates?

“Centro appear to be using scarce public cash to try to secure their survival or even increase their influence by winning political support. This unelected quango seems oblivious to the recession, and due to the lack of any accountability, needn’t fear the repercussions of frittering our tax money in this insensitive way.”

Steve Swingler, media manager for Centro, today defended the organisation’s attendance at the conference, saying bosses were “able to make sure the Conservative Party is fully aware of the economic and social benefits of good public transport”, as well as projects such as high speed rail and the need for this in the West Midlands.

“Far from being a quango, Centro is made up of democratically elected councillors who work hard to secure the funding from Government and other sources that is needed to improve the region’s public transport infrastructure, and help tackle congestion which is costing the West Midlands £2.3 billion a year,” he continued.

“This excessive traffic is stifling our economic growth which in turn is depriving thousands of people of desperately needed jobs.

“Better transport is crucial to underpin the region’s efforts to pull out of recession and secure its future economic prosperity.

“To this end, it is Centro’s responsibility to build relationships with not just the political party in power, but all parties in order to influence policy and legislation.”

Tory activist Francesca Preece wrote an on-line journal for The Sun newspaper from the conference on October 8. In it she said she had received a “supermarket sweep” of freebies including the gifts from Centro.