HC Deb 07 December 1994 vol 251 cc265-6W
Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number and cost of (a) first-class tickets, (b) business-class tickets and (c) economy-class tickets for overseas flights taken by Ministers located in Britain and paid for by his Department, in each of the last three years.

Mr. Goodlad

Our central records are unable to break down ministerial and civil servants commercial overseas flights. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number and cost of (a) first-class tickets, (b) business-class tickets and (c) economy-class tickets for overseas flights taken by civil servants located in Britain and paid for by his Department, in each of the last three years.

Mr. Goodlad

The details for overseas flights by FCO and ODA Ministers and civil servants based in Britain in 1993 and 1994 are:

Class of travel Number Cost
1993 £
First class 293 543,449
Club class 6,825 5,734,311
Economy 1,598 392,460

Class of travel Number Cost
1994 (January–October) £
First class 380 437,597
Club class 6,071 5,884,290
Economy 1,281 328,666

Apportioning expenditure between Ministers and civil servants would incur disproportionate cost.

For expenditure incurred in 1992, it is not possible to provide a breakdown by class and mode of travel. Nor is it possible to distinguish between overseas and domestic travel. Total expenditure on official travel by UK-based Ministers and officials in the FCO and ODA that year was £9,291,235.

Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of overseas flights taken by (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants located in Britain and paid for by his Department in each of the last three years.

Mr. Goodlad

Expenditure for overseas travel in the FCO is as follows:

  • 1992 £10,256,192

This 1992 figure includes all forms of travel—rail, road, ship and air. It is not possible to give a more detailed breakdown.

  • 1993 Commercial and charter flights £7,407,489
  • 1994 Commercial and charter flights £7,454,498

As stated in replies to other written questions, our central records are unable to break down ministerial and civil servants' flights without incurring disproportionate costs.