§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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.
§ Mr. KeyThe Department and its agency, the Historic Royal Palaces Agency, are able to provide advances of salary to assist staff with the purchase of bicycles for home to office travel. Advances currently up to a maximum of £100 are available to non-industrial staff who have served in the civil service for at least two months. Advances are not available to staff employed on a casual basis. The advances are interest-free and are repayable over one year. Immediate repayment is required should the member of staff cease to be a civil servant or dispose of the bicycle.
41WThe Department has no plans to change eligibility or repayment rules, or to raise the maximum amount of loan.