OTTAWA - Veterans Affairs is grounding an arms-length review board from international travel after a member came under fire for taking two trips to the UK.

The move came after media reports highlighted trips taken by John Larlee, the chair of Veterans Review and Appeal Board, to conferences in Britain in 2009 and 2011. Larlee's wife was a participant in both lectures.

The trips, paid for by the taxpayer, came to $7,285.

The lecture series, in Cambridge, England, focused on topics relating to law and politics. Last year, Chief Supreme Court Justice Beverley McLachlin gave the opening address.

On Tuesday, NDP MP Peter Stoffer questioned why the government signed off on the travel expenses when "that kind of money would help a lot of disabled veterans."

Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney responded that his government stood behind the tribunal but expected all board members to be responsible with their spending.

A spokesman for the minister later confirmed department officials have banned all taxpayer-funded international travel for board members.

Former soldiers can appeal to the board for an independent review of decisions over disability benefits made by Veterans Affairs.

The Veterans Ombudsman recently released a highly critical report on the board's decisions, saying many "failed to observe principles of procedural fairness."