§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to(a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years; [98688]
(2) how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years; [98687]
(3) how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years. [98686]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFor information on civil servants' transport costs, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 1 December 1999,Official Report, columns 255–56W. Travel undertaken by civil servants (including use of cars) complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
The Treasury always provides ministerial vehicles for official purposes. However, if Ministers prefer to use their own vehicles for official business, they will be able to claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants in the Minister's Department.
302WThe standard and public transport motor mileage rates the Department offers to civil servants is:
i. Standard rate of Mileage Allowance
Paid for journeys where public transport is not reasonably practicable and the claimant holds a fully comprehensive insurance policy.
Pence Up to 1500cc 1501–2000cc Over 2000cc First 5,000 miles at 35.7 40 43 Over 5,000 miles at 17 21 27 ii. Public Transport Rate of Mileage Allowance
Paid in other circumstances
Rate per mile 22.36p
Cost of each of the last five years: £ 1994–951 21,000 1995–961 12,000 1996–971 7,000 1997–98 6,000 1998–99 11,000 1Includes the cost of car hire Ministerial transport is provided by the Government Car Service (GCS). For information on spend on the Government Car Service, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 1 December 1999, Official Report,columns 255–56W.