HL Deb 23 May 1985 vol 464 cc475-6WA
Lord Aldington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who in the following categories is authorised to travel first class by air when going on duty to Japan and other places involving journeys over 16 hours in the aircraft—(a) Ministers; (b) members of the Diplomatic Service; (c) members of the armed forces; (d) members of the Civil Service; (e) chairmen and directors of nationalised industries; and how soon after arrival a person who is not authorised to travel first class is expected to fulfil the first engagement.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)

The position for a journey of 16 hours or more is as follows:

  1. (a) Ministers: all Ministers would normally travel first class.
  2. (b) Members of the Diplomatic Service, the armed forces and the Civil Service have similar arrangements. Only staff in Grades 1 and 1 A or officers of the rank of Four-Star General (and its equivalent levels) and above would normally travel first class.

Staff in Grade 5 and officers of the rank of Brigadier (and its equivalent levels) and above may be allowed to travel first class where the airlines fare structures for the route do not have a Club Class or equivalent. Staff in other grades and officers in other ranks may be permitted to travel first class in special circumstances—for example, when they necessarily travel in company with another entitled to first class in order to discuss or deal with official business; when they necessarily travel for official reasons in company with a person not a United Kingdom civil servant or member of the armed forces who is travelling first class; when a member of the armed forces is head of a British Mission abroad or the senior HMG officer serving in a representative capacity at a station abroad. All armed forces personnel would be expected to travel on a Royal Air Force flight, if available.

There are no special provisions on how soon after arrival a person not authorised to travel first class is expected to fulfil his first engagement. However, the Civil Service and the armed forces have guidance to the effect that whenever possible after all long air journeys across time zones staff should be allowed an acclimatisation period. This is normally 24 hours but may be extended for longer journeys.

(c) Chairmen and Directors of Nationalised Industries: travel arrangements for chairmen and directors of nationalised industries are matter for the industries themselves.