§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [123088]
§ Mr. AlexanderThe responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
398W
The amount spent for official use of taxis in UK for financial years £ 1997–98 25,535 1998–99 96,439 1999–2000 176,489 2000–01 220,720 2001–02 267,603
The UK rail travel figures £ 1997–98 89,937 1998–99 466,598 1999–2000 460,500 2000–01 407,354 2001–02 417,420
The figures for all forms of air travel (UK and Overseas) inclusive for the same period £ 1997–98 1,061,745 1998–99 1,218,293 1999–2000 1,155,755 2000–01 1,525,834 2001–02 1.780,405 The figures above for air travel do not include ministers travel costs overseas costing more than 500.
Since 1999, this Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The lists include details of the cost of trips involving charter and RAF flights. Copies of the lists covering the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2003 are available in the Libraries of the House.
All official travel in my Department is undertaken strictly in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All Ministerial travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.