§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in his Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40451]
§ Angela EagleSection 8 of the Civil Service Management code requires Departments and agencies to ensure that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities.
Home Office staff below Senior Executive Officer level are normally required to travel standard class on rail journeys. The details, including exceptions to the general policy, are contained in the Departmental Travel and Subsistence Manual. The policy is to encourage staff to use public transport rather than cars, in accordance with the Government's policy on "Green Transport".
Senior staff are entitled to travel first class on official journeys where facilities are available to enable working on official papers on route. The policy is kept under review, but there are no current plans to change the arrangements. A new contract from 1 April will ensure additional discounts are available.