HC Deb 15 September 2004 vol 424 cc1578-9W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the travel costs were of civil servants in(a) her Department, (b) the predecessor Department and (c) the related agencies in each yew since 1997. [183903]

Alun Michael

The following table shows overall departmental expenditure recorded since the Department was formed in 2001. These figures exclude agency figures which are shown in the agency table. There are no figures provided for the period prior to Defra's formation as Defra was formed primarily from two predecessor Departments and as this information could only be provided incurring disproportionate cost.

£000
Year end 31 March Departmental travel
2001–02 11,192
2002–03 7,170
2003–04 7,069

The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 include travel expenses incurred as a result of foot and mouth disease.

All travel was in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

The expenditure figures for related agencies of civil servants in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is as follows:

£000
Defra agencies
2001–02 4,065
2002–03 4,205
2003–04 4,951
Note:
The Defra agencies include: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Central Science Laboratory, Pesticide Safety Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate.