§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Dorrell[holding answer 18 January 1993]: In common with other Departments, the Treasury has arrangements under which it can make interest free 146W advances of salary of up to £100 to assist staff with the purchase of a bicycle for home-to-office travel. Advances are repayable over one year.
It was announced on 16 December 1992, Official Report, column 285–86, that responsibility for determining the conditions on which such advances can be made has been delegated to Departments. The Treasury will be reviewing its arrangements in the light of that delegation.