§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the review of arrangements for ministerial and official travel mentioned in "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97", section 4.49 has taken place; and if he will list how much each Minister and other officials spent on travel(a) in 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [15420]
§ Sir John WheelerThree reviews have been taken in 1994–95 into the use of(a) executive jets provided by the private sector; (b) agents to provide travel and hotel bookings in Belfast; and (c) the use of the Government car service. As a result of each review, the new contracts have provided improved value for money through reducing costs and higher discounts.
It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to identify the separate travel costs for each individual Minister and officials. The total expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office on all travel and subsistence, including police escorts for Ministers, broken down as between (a) Ministers and their personal support staff (b) senior officials and team support staff and (c) all other Northern Ireland Office staff, including the Prison Service and the Compensation Agency was £3,859,514 in 1993–94 and £3,338,609 for 1994–95 to 22 March 1995 as follows:
1993–94 £ 1994–95 (to 22 March 1995) £ (a) Minister and support staff: (1) Travel and subsistence 792,601 779,092 (2) Car service 322,922 272,694 (3) RUC escort 509,607 522,969 Total 1,625,130 1,574,755 (b) Senior NIO officials and support staff: (1) Travel and subsistence 140,067 131,706 (2) Car service 48,060 43.040 Total 188,127 174,746 (c) All other NIO staff (including Prison Service and Compensation Agency (1) Travel and subsistence 2,046,257 1,589,108 Grand Total 3,859,514 3,338,609