§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many car parking spaces are available to(a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone. [81857]
§ Maria EagleWithin the proposed central London charging zone there are 112 parking spaces available to employees of the Department. There are no parking spaces designated for visitors to the Department.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees. [81837]
§ Maria EagleAll civil servants are responsible for their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road users' charge will not affect this basic condition of service. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is to his Department of the central London road user charging scheme for(a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. [81876]
§ Maria EagleAll civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road user charge will not affect this basic condition of service. Any additional costs incurred to the Department by staff on official business as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.
Information on the number of departmental employees who travel to the central London area on official business is not held centrally. I am therefore unable to give an estimate of the likely cost to the Department.