HC Deb 16 July 2003 vol 409 cc392-3W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost was to his Department for(a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123080]

Mrs. McGuire

The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

The cost of ministerial cars and drivers will be addressed in a letter from Mr. Nick Matheson, the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, to the hon. Member. The cost of taxis for the Scotland Office was £9,244 in 1999–2000; £16,519 in 2000–01;£13,543 in 2001–02 and£15,266 (estimated) in 2002–03. The cost of rail travel was£37,970 in 1999–2000; £41,998 in 2000–01; £54,882 in 2001–02; and £70,140 (estimated) in 2002–03. The cost of air travel was £126,704 in 1999–2000; £227,024 in 2000–01; £222,568 in 2001–02 and £216,269 (estimated) in 2002–03.

No expenditure has been incurred on the use of helicopters or chartered planes since 1 July 1999.

All official travel was undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the departmental staff handbook and all Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Forward to