§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on travel by officials and Ministers in her Department in each year since 1997. [157789]
§ Mr. CabornThe following table shows departmental expenditure on travel and subsistence. An analysis on travel only is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Department's staff handbook and all Ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Financial year £ 2003–041 735,669.48 2002–03 876,636.96 2001–02 750,593.38 2000–01 811,985.53 1999–2000 755,429.32 1998–99 643,283.50 1997–98 582,564.51 1 Cost shown in 2003–04 are to the 25 February 2004
§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in her Department are entitled to travel first class by rail when travelling to perform their responsibilities. [157797]
§ Mr. CabornDCMS travel and subsistence rules encourage staff to use Standard Class travel wherever possible. To obtain best value for money, management of the policy is delegated to line management who are responsible for authorisation and economical management of all official travel. While first class travel is permitted for some grades many of them travel at standard class unless, for example, they need extra space or comfort to work during travel.
The number of people entitled to travel by first class rail when travelling in the UK to perform their responsibilities is 124 (including Ministers). The number of people entitled to travel by first class rail when travelling overseas to perform their responsibilities is 400 (including Ministers).
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