§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the flights taken by(a) himself and (b) other ministers on Concorde since 2 May 1997. [67984]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer I February 1999]: The Ministerial Code requires Ministers to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
In line with this guidance and the practice of the previous Administration, I and 8 of my Ministers have taken scheduled Concorde flights on a total of 14 occasions. This compares with 11 Ministers on a total of 13 occasions during the last two years of the previous Administration.
In addition, as accounted for in answers to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 14 July 1997, Official Report, column 46, and the hon. Member for Lichfield (Mr. Fabricant) on 13 March 1998, Official Report, columns 366–67, I have also chartered Concorde, as did my predecessor.