§ Q19. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will give the number of occasions since June, 1970, when Ministers of any rank have been conveyed in helicopters at public expense from their homes to official engagements; which Ministers were so conveyed; when and at what expense; why the normal air services were not used when available; and on how many occasions normal air services were not available.
§ The Prime MinisterMinisters were taken from their homes to official engagements by Service helicopters, in the absence of satisfactory alternative transport, on five occasions between July and
November, 1970. Those concerned were the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Minister of State, Welsh Office, and Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (twice).
563WFor departmental accounting purposes the total cost of these flights has been calculated at £1,490, but not all of this represents additional expenditure from public funds.