§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years. [98690]
§ Mr. HillMinisters are required, under 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 255–56W.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much his Department has spent on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [99147]
§ Mr. HillI 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 255–56W. This gave details of providing the Government Car Service, which included the costs for Ministers and Ministerial private office expenditure in DETR. All travel undertaken by civil servants in the Department complied with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
The amount paid for other civil servants transport was not retained separately from other travel expenditure on the previous Department of Transport Accounting system which was in use until end of March 1999 so that a combined total for the two Departments for previous years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 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. [99148]
§ Mr. HillMinisters, when travelling on official business, may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as their civil servants. Use of public transport is encouraged. The Department's aim of minimising journeys by car to reduce the environmental impact of transport activity has been publicised widely. Where public transport is available but a private car is used, a single flat rate of 24 pence per mile is payable. Where it is impracticable to use public transport, payment for the use of a private car is at the rate of 40 pence per mile for the first 4,000 miles regardless of engine size, and 24 pence per mile after that. Claims for payment have to confirm that each journey was arranged in the most cost effective way.
The amount paid for motor mileage was not retained separately from other travel expenditure on the previous Department of Transport accounting system so that a combined total for the two Departments could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.