§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current conditions on which civil servants in his Department are granted salary advances to enable the purchase of bicycles for home-to-office travel; if he will make a statement on the current conditions in each agency of his Department; what plans he has to change the conditions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonStaff in junior grades throughout the Ministry of Defence and its agencies are eligible to apply for an advance of salary of up to £100 to assist with the purchase of a bicycle for use in travelling between home and office, provided they have been in post for at least two months and are not employed in a casual capacity. The definition of "junior staff" is staff in grades which are entitled to class 3 rates of subsistence, ie. higher executive officer and below.
My Department and its agencies are considering whether to alter the scheme in light of the recent changes notified by Treasury and announced by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 16 December 1992, Official Report, cols. 285–86.