Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what costs were incurred by the Government in relation to the Royal Train in 1998–99; how many times it was used for official Government business; and at what cost on each occasion. [83078]
§ Mr. PrescottThe cost of the Royal Train is met as part of the Grant-in-aid which is the annual funding provided by the Department to meet the cost of official royal travel by air and rail. Figures for the use of the Royal train during 1998–99 (which include both a fixed and variable cost element) are currently being finalised but it is estimated that the total cost will be about £825,000. This represents a decrease of 29 per cent. on 1997–98 and 56 per cent. since the Grant-in-aid was established two years ago.
The Train was used once for official Government business during 1998–99—for a function hosted by Mrs. Blair for the wives of the G8 Heads of Government on 16 May 1998. The £11,382 variable cost of the use of the Train, plus a £4,250 contribution to fixed costs, was met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.