§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 on which a Minister in his 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 his Department and (vi) details of people accompanying the Minister, indicating the total costs of all such travel borne by his Department (1) since 1 May 1997 and (2) between 1 May 1996 and 1 May 1997; [55545]
(2) if he will list the occasions of ministerial use of RAF aircraft since 1 May 1997 indicating the Minister, the date of trips, the departure and destination points and the costs. [55564]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 19 October 1998]: This 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 which applied under the previous Administration. Between 2 May 1997 and 30 September 1998 Ministers in this department have used RAF aircraft on the occasions which are set out in a table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
The average cost of the flights taken to meet these trips for the 17 months between May 1997 and September 1998 is £3,910 compared to an average cost of £3,433 in the last year of the previous Administration.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if departments have to pay the full cost to the RAF when Ministers from other departments use RAF planes on official business. [55573]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 19 October 1998]: When Ministers from all Government departments use RAF aircraft on official business they are charged at a "no-loss" rate (the direct cost excluding overheads). This represents the same charging policy as under the previous administration.
§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the VIP transport journeys undertaken by the XV108 since 1 May 1997, indicating in each case the(a) destination and (b) date of each trip; and the names of the VIPs carried together with the number of people accompanying them. [58305]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 5 November 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him today by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, Official Report, columns 742-46, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Official Report, column 808.