HC Deb 20 April 1977 vol 930 cc91-2W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when the information asked for by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 5th April about the number of civil servants with salaries over £5,000 per annum who have the use

Department Non-Industrials Industrials Total
Cabinet Office … … … … … 660 — 660
MAFF* … … … … … … 14,640 1,158 15,798
HM Treasury … … … … … 1,143 — 1,143
HM Customs … … … … … 29,354 — 29,354
Inland Revenue … … … … … 82,490 27 82,517
Department for National Savings … … 12,401 94 12,495
Department of Education and Science† … 3,926 103 4,029
Department of Employment‡ … … … 49,982 1,955 51,937
Department of Energy … … … … 1,335 12 1,347
Department of the Environment§ … … 32,354 25,556 57,910
Ordnance Survey … … … … … 3,873 323 4,196
Foreign and Commonwealth Office … … 9,821 240 10,061
Ministry of Overseas Development … … 2,290 58 2,348

of Government cars to take them to and from the railway stations and their offices was supplied; what was the reason for the delay; and whether he will publish these details in the Official Report.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The information was supplied on 19th April. The 14 days taken to produce the information included the Easter holiday and an additional weekend. Eight working days were taken in consulting Departments and preparing the reply. Eleven civil servants with salaries over £5,000 a year—all Permanent Secretaries or their near equivalents in the Science Group—use Government pool cars to take them to and from Waterloo, London Bridge and Victoria Stations and offices in Whitehall, Victoria Street, Marsham Street, Mill-bank, Strand, St. James's Square and Victoria Embankment. Permanent Secretaries of major Government Departments were given discretion to use cars in this way in 1952, and the facility was extended to all Permanent Secretaries in 1973. The provisions of the Finance Act 1976 apply to this usage as to any member of the public. Questions about the tax treatment of individuals are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.