82. Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the heads of any Government Departments are authorised, in the interests of public efficiency and expedition, to make use of aeroplanes for distant journeys; and whether, in that case, he can state the circumstances?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleHeads of Government Departments may authorise their officers to travel on duty by aircraft operated by a company registered in the British Empire if the cost of the journey, allowing for any saving of subsistence allowance, is not greater than the cost by other available means of transport, or otherwise if they consider that the urgency of the business or the saving of official time clearly justifies the extra cost of air travel. Journeys on duty by foreign aircraft are allowed only in exceptional circumstances and before undertaking such journeys officers must obtain express authority to do so.