§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department have travelled first class by air on official business in each of the past three years; what was the cost of their tickets; and how much would have been saved if they had travelled economy class.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI regret that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Officers in grades 1 to 3 of the Diplomatic Service are entitled to first-class air travel. Those in grade 4 are so entitled only on journeys of at least four hours' continuous flying time. Other members of the Diplomatic Service are permitted to travel first class by air only in exceptional circumstances.