§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what rates of travel allowance may be claimed by civil servants in his Department when using their own vehicles for official business. [36367]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe mileage allowances payable to civil servants using their own vehicles in my Department are:
Cars—Standard mileage rate Engine capacity Up to 1500cc 1501–2000cc Over 2000cc Pence per mile Up to 4000 miles (pa) 34 43 47 Over 4000 miles (pa) 19 23 30 A special rate of 23.8p per mile is payable where staff choose to use their own car, even when public transport is available.
Motor Cycles and Motor Cycle Combinations Engine capacity Up to 125cc Over 125cc Up to 4000 miles (pa) (comprehensive insurance) 16.2 25.3 Up to 4000 miles (pa) (third party insurance) 14.5 22.8 Over 4000 miles 6.2 9.0 Pedal cycles 6.2p per mile
§ Dr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total cost of travel expenses156W claimed by civil servants using their own vehicles for official business in each of the last five years in his Department; and what would have been the saving in the last five years if the maximum rate that could be claimed was set at the lowest rate. [36368]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe total cost of travel expenses claimed by staff using their own vehicles for official business was some £450,000 in 1993–94 and £640,000 in 1994–1995. Records are no longer available for earlier years and records showing the actual rate claimed are not kept. It is not possible, therefore to estimate the saving if the lower rate had not been claimed in each case.