§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department have travelled first class by air on official business in each of the past three years; what was the cost of their tickets; and how much would have been saved if they had travelled economy class.
§ Dr. GilbertI regret that this information is not readily available. The only 33W civil servants normally entitled to travel first class by air are those graded Under-Secretary and above. This facility is also available to those at Assistant Secretary level when making flights of at least four hours flying time without a break. Other civil servants are allowed to travel first class only if, for example, they have to accompany a more senior officer who is himself entitled to first class travel.