§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of employee travel on office business, broken down into(a) fuel allowances, (b) unproductive time during travel, (c) other costs related to car transport and (d) costs related to public transport, for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96, (iii) 1996–97 and (iv) 1997–98. [32447]
§ Mr. Dewar[holding answer 3 March 1998]: The information sought is not all available. The information given relates only to travel on official business by staff of The Scottish Office:
- (a) No fuel allowances are paid.
- (b) No central record is kept of time spent travelling, whether productive or unproductive.
- (c) Car hire and fleet car running costs for 1996–97 and 1997–98 (11 months) are £537,855 and £434,826 respectively.
- (d) Official travel costs incurred in using public transport for 1996–97 and 1997–98 (11 months) are £1,952,125 and £1,904,759 respectively.
Comparable figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.