§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 on which a Minister in her Department has used(a) an aircraft belonging to the RAF and (b) a privately chartered aircraft together with (i) details of the take-off and destination points, (ii) ground waiting time, (iii) dates of departure and return, (iv) purpose of the trip, (v) cost of the trip to her Department and (vi) details of people accompanying the Minister, indicating the total costs of all such travel borne by her Department (1) since 1 May 1997 and (2) between 1 May 1996 and 1 May 1997.[55561]
§ Mr. FoulkesThis Question could be answered in full only at disproportionate cost. Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on travel for Ministers are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration.
Between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998, Ministers in this Department have used RAF aircraft and private charter aircraft on the following occasions:
preserve as far as possible investment in the social, education and employment programmes which are the foundation for growth.
In that respect, he called upon the World bank to develop as a matter of urgency a code of general principles of good practice in social policy, in consultation with other organisations, that should be drawn upon by the IMF and the World bank in developing adjustment programmes in response to crises. Following my right hon. Friend's proposals, the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors agreed in their recent statement on the world economy that more attention must be given in times of crisis to the effect of economic adjustment on the most vulnerable groups in society.