§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General what was the(a) percentage and number of rail journeys undertaken on first class tickets, (b) average cost of a first class journey by rail and (c) total cost of rail travel in each of the past four years broken down by grade of civil servant. [37494]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 25 February 2002]: In my own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, details of the cost of rail travel incurred by the Department in each of the last four years is included in the Treasury Solicitor's Department's records. Separate details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In the Departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible, details are as follows:
1997–98
- Total Cost: £483,000
- First Class: £168,000
- Percentage: 34.8.
1998–99
- Total Cost: £583,000
- First Class: £247,000
- Percentage: 42.4.
1999–2000
- Total Cost: £770,000
- First Class: £387,000
- Percentage: 50.3.
2000–01
- Total Cost: £742,000
- First Class: £318,000
- Percentage: 42.9.
The Crown Prosecution Service does not retain records of the number of rail journeys and cannot provide the average cost of a first class journey. Nor can the total cost be broken down by civil service grade.
Treasury Solicitor's Department
The contract management and financial analysis systems currently in place in the Treasury Solicitor's Department mean that the information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
The relevant systems are being upgraded as part of the improvement in financial management on which the Treasury Solicitor's Department embarked some months ago. Most of the improvements should be concluded during the course of the financial year 2002–03.
Serious Fraud Office
The details requested could not be provided without the Serious Fraud Office incurring disproportionate cost.