§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 on which a Minister in his Department has used(a) an aircraft belonging to the RAF and (b) a privately chartered aircraft together with (i) details of the take-off and destination points, (ii) ground waiting time, (iii) dates of departure and return, (iv) purpose of the trip, (v) cost of the trip to his Department and (vi) details of people accompanying the Minister, indicating the total costs of all such travel borne by his Department (1) since 1 May 1997 and (2) between 1 May 1996 and 1 May 1997. [55551]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 19 November 1998]: This question could be answered in full only at disproportionate cost. Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration.
The volume of travel by RAF aircraft reflects our Presidency of the European Union. Between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998, Ministers in this Department have used RAF aircraft on the following occasions:
839WThe average cost to the Department of the flights taken to meet these trips for the 17 months between May 1997 and September 1998 is £3,063.
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, travelled by a privately chartered aircraft to Calcutta on 11 September 1997 to represent the UK Government at the funeral of Mother Theresa. He was accompanied by 2 of his staff and a member of the Royal Family and her staff. There was no cost to the Department.