HL Deb 08 July 1969 vol 303 cc1047-8WA
LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

asked Her Majesty's Government:

1. What is the present amount per mile of motor mileage allowance allowed to members of the Civil Service:

  1. (a) at the higher rate;
  2. (b) at the lower rate.

2. On what date the existing rate allowed to Peers of Parliament was last fixed, and whether the rate is the same as that paid to civil servants at the lower rate.

3. The total cost, inclusive of excise duty, of one gallon of 99-octane petrol:

  1. (a) as at the date given in 2 above;
  2. (b) to-day;

and what is the rise in cost between (a) and (b) expressed as a percentage.

4. What action is now being taken to bring the rate allowed to both civil servants and Peers of Parliament into line with current costs.

5. When an announcement will be made.

LORD SHACKLETON:

1. (a) The higher rate (i.e. the standard rate) of motor mileage allowance which is paid to Civil Servants who use their private motor vehicles for official purposes is 9d. per mile for the first 7,000 miles each year and 5½d. per mile thereafter.

(b) The lower rate of 4d. per mile is paid when officers use their private motor vehicles for journeys which do not qualify for the standard rate, e.g. normally when they are longer than 75 miles. This rate is based on the average cost of all travel by public transport and is called the public transport rate.

2. The existing limit on the allowance for travel by road which is payable to Peers attending the House for the purpose of their Parliamentary duties was fixed at 4½d. a mile by Resolution of the House of Lords on 16th December, 1964, to take effect from 18th December, 1964. The rate is not the same as the lower rate paid to civil servants since the bases of determination in the two cases are different.

3. A typical recommended price of a gallon of 99 octane petrol in Central London was:

  1. (a) 5s. 3½d. on 19th December, 1964
  2. (b) 6s. 5½d. on 19th June, 1969.

The rise in cost between (a) and (b) is 22 per cent.

4. The higher allowances payable to civil servants are now under review: the lower allowance (public transport allowance) was reviewed and increased in October, 1968. Proposals for the review of the rate for Peers have also been put forward.

5. Announcements will be made as soon as the reviews have been completed.

House adjourned at five minutes before ten o'clock.