§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to his Department for(a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123082]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonInformation relating to the cost of ministerial cars and drivers has been addressed in a letter to the hon. Member from the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Information relating to the cost of planes chartered for ministerial travel is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.
Information on the various elements of travel costs available from the Department's accounting system is given as follows. Figures are for financial years ending 31 March. Separate information on taxi expenditure was not kept before 2001–02.
Cost £ Taxis 2001–02 312,226 2002–03 336,659 Train travel 1997–98 2,500,136 1998–99 3,622,829 1999–2000 4,825,844 2000–01 3,187,127 2001–02 4,741,888 2002–03 4,265,410 Airline tickets 1997–98 438,633 1998–99 367,992 1999–2000 454,484 2000–01 614,316 2001–02 655,581 2002–03 639,508 There has been no expenditure on helicopters
All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Department's published departmental staff handbook and all ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.