Several government departments increased spending on travel, food and hotel accommodation in the past financial year, despite orders to cut it, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.

"The issue has escalated out of all kinds off control," DA Deputy Chief Whip Mike Ellis told a media briefing at Parliament in Cape Town.

His colleague, party national spokesman Motlatjo Thetjeng, said 18 of 26 departments that responded to DA questions had spent R2.1 billion during 2007/08 on these three items.

While tabling his medium-term budget policy statement in October last year, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel had asked national departments to limit spending on unnecessary entertainment, travel and hotel accommodation.

However, totalling the figures received from departments showed there had been a R356 million increase (19 percent) in such spending compared to the previous year (2006/07).

"[A total of] R593 million was spent on accommodation; R1.4 billion was spent on travel; and R156 million was spent on food."

Of the 18 departments, 15 had increased and three decreased the amount they spent on this during the year, Thetjeng said.