§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General what her estimate is of the cost of(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002. [101847]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 12 May 2003]: On the cost of ministerial cars I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 20 May 2003, Official Report, column 663W.
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service does not separately record expenditure on taxis and it would incur disproportionate cost to identify this information. The costs of taxis are included with other miscellaneous travel expenditure and the aggregate cost of such expenditure in 2002 was £189,000.
523WSerious Fraud Office
The total incurred by the Serious Fraud Office for taxis during the financial year 2002 is £15,893.27.
Treasury Solicitor's Department
The information available in relation to taxis is not held in the form required. Where authorised small claims for travel expenses are met from petty cash, the method of travel is not distinguished. The total expenditure from petty cash for all travel purposes so far in 2002–03 has been £5,523. Where claims are paid otherwise taxi fares are separately identifiable. In 2002–03 these amount to £2,800 for the Treasury Solicitor's Department of which £1,173 is attributable to the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and £25 to Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution. Service Inspectorate. Information is not held by calendar year.