§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the mileage rates applicable from January 1999 to staff, indicating changes which have been made to encourage staff to switch from cars to public transport and other less polluting forms of travel. [79441]
§ Mr. StrawThe Mileage Allowance Rates applicable from January 1999 are as follows.702W
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Engine capacity/p per mile Home Office (excluding Prison Service) Motor Vehicle Rates: Public Transport Rate 23.8p per mile Standard Rate Mileage Engine Capacity up to 1500cc 35.7p for first 5,000 miles 19p for over 5,000 miles Engine Capacity 1501–2000cc 43p for first 5,000 miles 23p for over 5,000 miles Engine Capacity over 2000cc 46p for first 5,000 miles 31p for over 5,000 miles Motor Cycle Rates: Public Transport Rate Engine Capacity up to 125cc 12.9p per mile Engine Capacity over 125cc 23.8p per mile Standard Rate Mileage Engine Capacity up to 125cc 16.2p for first 4,000 miles 6.2p for over 4,000 miles Engine Capacity over 125cc 26p for first 4,000 miles 9p for over 4,000 miles Pedal Cycle Rates: 6.2p per mile Lease Car Rates: 9p per mile Rates last revised 1 September 1994 but revision pending subject to Union agreement Prison Service Motor Vehicle Rates: Public Transport Rate 24.9p per mile Standard Rate Mileage Engine Capacity up to 1000cc 28p for first 4,000 miles 17p for over 4,000 miles Engine Capacity 1001–1500cc 35p for first 4,000 miles 20p for over 4,000 miles Engine Capacity 1501–2000cc 45p for first 4,000 miles 25p for over 4,000 miles Engine Capacity over 2000cc 63p for first 4,000 miles 36p for over 4,000 miles Motor Cycle Rates: Public Transport Rate Engine Capacity up to 125cc 13.4p per mile Engine Capacity over 125cc 24.9p per mile Standard Rate Mileage Engine Capacity up to 125cc 17.5p for first 4,000 miles 6.5p for over 4,000 miles Engine Capacity over 125cc 27.2p for first 4,000 miles 9.7p for over 4,000 miles Pedal Cycle Rates: 7.4p per mile Official Car Rates: Petrol up to 1800cc 9.9p for first 10,000 miles 8.4p for over 10,000 miles Petrol over 1801 cc 10.74p for first 10,000 miles 9.24p for over 10,000 miles All Diesel 9.9p for first 10,000 miles 8.4p for over 10,000 miles Heavy Trailer addition 2.5p per mile Rates last revised 1 November 1998 The Home Office is committed to reducing the impact that its business travel has on the environment. Before undertaking any business travel, staff and their line managers consider whether the visit/attendance at a meeting is really necessary, whether the objectives of the meeting could be met through correspondence, e-mail, fax or telephone and whether Video-conferencing facilities could be used. If it is considered necessary, staff must use public transport unless there are operational grounds for using private vehicles/hire cars, for example, carrying heavy equipment, or if the route is poorly served by public transport. There are currently two rates of mileage allowance—Standard Rate and Public Transport Rate. The Home Office operates a strict policy when considering the payment of allowances to officers who use their private vehicles for business travel, including prior authorisation from line managers when Standard Rate Mileage Allowance is claimed. This ensures that private vehicles are only used when absolutely necessary.
Whilst those areas which have higher than average business travel have been targeted since January 1999 in an effort to promote the switch to public transport, it is also proposed to pursue the option of a single rate of Standard Rate Motor Mileage Allowance in the new financial year. If adopted, this should encourage the use of smaller cars and further encourage the use of public transport through a reduced rate of Motor Mileage Allowance for larger engine cars. The Home Office also has allowances for the use of motorcycles and pedal cycles for official travel and increases to the rates will also be sought in the new financial year.