§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what motor mileage allowance rates his Department offers to(a) ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [98714]
Mr. MurphyMinisters travelling on official business may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim the mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants in my Department, at the rates set out below
Cars with engine capacity up to 1500cc is 35p per mile for the first 4,000 miles in a year, and 20p per mile thereafter in that year.Cars with engine capacity between 1501cc-2000cc is 45p per mile for the first 4,000 miles in a year, and 25p per mile thereafter in that year.Cars with engine capacity over 2000cc is 48p per mile for the first 4,000 miles in a year, and 32p per mile thereafter in that year.A Public Transport Rate of 23.8p per mile is payable when a private car is used although there are more cost-effective modes of transport available.Figures are not available before financial year 1996–97. For the years since then there may be an unidentified mix of expenditure, but as nearly as can be determined the costs of motor mileage for Ministers and civil servants have been as follows:
£ Ministers Civil Servants For the Welsh Office 1996–97 9,555 293,792 1997–98 5,252 326,925 1998–99 9,424 389,408 1 April 1999–30 June 1999 1,006 112,269 For the Wales Office, following devolution 1 July 1999–20 November 1999 575 1,179
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [98713]
Mr. MurphyAll travel undertaken by civil servants complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 1 December 1999,Official Report, column 256W.
368W
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years. [98712]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyMinisters are required, under the terms of the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers' to make efficient and cost effective travel arrangements. For information on spend on the Government Car Service, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 1 December 1999,Official Report, columns 255–256W.