§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what grades in the civil service in her Department are allowed to travel by air(a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties. [104974]
§ Clare ShortWithin the constraint that all staff are required to use the most efficient and economic means of travel commensurate with meeting operational needs, civil servants working in the Department for International Development (DFID) are, when travelling on official duty, entitled to the class of air travel set out in the following table.
Structure Members of the SASC1 group Other grades Up to 2½ hours Over 2½ hours Up to 2½ hours2 Over 2½ hours Business/Economy Business Business Economy Business First/Business/Economy Business Business Economy Business First/Economy Economy First Economy Economy 1 Senior Appointments Selection Committee. 2 Staff who are not members of the SASC Group can fly Business Class between Glasgow and London This makes use of a special airline deal under which a Business Class fare is obtainable more cheaply than the standard Economy fare.