The latest release of BBC expense claims reveals that BBC comedy commissioning controller Shane Allen spent £120 on cupcakes for staff.

He ordered 48 cakes last autumn to thank staff for working on two shows.

Allen’s was the cherry on the top of a number of claims by executives who wanted to show their gratitude for staff’s labours through food and drink.

Former human resources director Lucy Adams spent £321 on a dinner for six as part of an “HR director awayday”, while director of workplace & safety Paul Greeves spent £475 on “thank you drinks for successful procurement team (19 people)”.

Outgoing head of drama production Kate Harwood also spent £984.38 on a leaving party attended by 15 people for a series consultant who was departing after 18 years.

Taxis are a regular feature of the quarterly expenses claims and this quarter – which the BBC calls Q3 2013-14 – was no different.

Head of TV sport Philip Bernie spent £108.49 on a minicab on 4 December last year, almost the same price as a ticket from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, while non-independent director Brian McBride spent £80 on a taxi home after a dinner for non-executive directors with the director general.

Due to the scrutiny of the BBC’s spending on cabs, a number of reasons were given by claimants for their use.

BBC Future Media executive creative director Colin Burns had to spend £50 on a taxi as there was “not enough time to take a train” on 30 August. He also spent £44.55 on “nine BBC T-shirts” in November and £74 on a “lost power adaptor”.

A BBC spokesperson said: “There are essential costs incurred in the running of a major broadcasting organisation which will always fluctuate but we aim to drive down costs wherever possible and spend on expenses has dropped by 15% since the same period last year.”

Total non -story. My company buys us all cakes, biscuits, fruit etc. every week. Once a month lunch is laid on for everyone, the company pays for a massive Christmas party with an open bar AND gives each team the money for a lunch out together once a year. £120 on cupcakes and £50 on a taxi is nothing compared to the expenses I process monthly!

I thought large companies got a tax allowance for team building stuff?