§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection 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. HattersleyI regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Entitlement to first class air travel is normally restricted to officers at Under-Secretary level and above, and to those at Assistant Secretary level when making flights of at least four hours flying time without a break. Other civil servants are allowed to travel first class only if, for example, they have to accompany a more senior officer who is himself entitled to first class air travel.