§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current conditions on which civil servants in his Department are granted salary advances to enable the purchase of bicycles for home-to-office travel; if he will make a statement on the current conditions in each agency of his Department; what plans he has to change the conditions; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralStaff in the Departments for which I have responsibility (the legal secretariat, the Crown prosecution service, the Treasury solicitor's department and the Serious Fraud Office) are aware of the availability of salary advances for the purchase of bicycles. All permanent staff with a minimum of two months service (other than the Serious Fraud Office which has no minimum requirement) are eligible to apply. Any advance made for the purchase of a bicycle is currently limited to £100. I have no plans to review these conditions.